About Peaches and Sourcream Children’s Foundation, Inc.
Founder: Mrs. Robin Muldor-Engram
Established in 2019
From an early age, Robin Muldor-Engram found solace in the power of imagination. With few toys and no books at home, she turned to pencil and paper, creating a world of her own. Placed in foster care at seven and in her third home by ten, one thing remained unchanged—there were still no books.
Her love affair with reading began when she entered her first full year of school at six or seven. By eight, while living in her second foster home, she stumbled upon a treasure: the public library across the street from her elementary school. She doesn’t recall signing up for a library card—perhaps her teacher had a classroom account—but she vividly remembers the thrill of checking out picture books by beloved authors like Russell Hoban, Arnold Lobel, Miriam Young, and Maurice Sendak.
At ten, she was placed in her third foster home. This time, she discovered something that changed everything—her neighborhood school had a library. Even better, it had a certified librarian. The day her teacher led the class down the hall to check out books for a Black History project, something clicked. A fifth-grade book report on Billie Holiday and Mary McLeod Bethune cemented her love of reading and writing, shaping the course of her life.
As a first-generation college graduate, Robin understood the barriers to education in underserved communities—barriers she had personally overcome. Determined to make a difference, she fostered a love of books within her own family, encouraging young relatives to embrace reading—some of whom went on to excel academically.
Then came the moment that changed everything. In 2017, she sat in the audience at her nephew’s fifth-grade graduation, beaming with pride as he received high honors. Yet as she watched, a stark reality set in. Out of a class of roughly 50 students, only a handful received awards. The unspoken truth hit hard—too many of his peers were likely struggling, casualties of a literacy crisis disproportionately affecting African American children.
Robin had seen the devastating consequences of illiteracy firsthand: limited opportunities, generational poverty, and increased risks of incarceration. She knew that without intervention, these children faced an uphill battle. The crisis was real. And she could no longer stand by.
Books had been her saving grace, guiding her away from becoming another statistic. She vowed that no child—especially those in foster care—should grow up without access to them. Research confirmed what she already knew: low literacy rates correlate with poverty, and children who fall behind in reading often never catch up. This knowledge fueled her mission—to put books in the hands and homes of children who might otherwise never have them.
In 2019, she founded the Peaches and Sourcream Children’s Foundation, Inc., rooted in the belief that true change begins at home, with parents as a child’s first teachers. The foundation promotes a return to basics—building a culture of reading within families.
To establish lasting reading habits—research suggests they form after 18 or more days of consistency—she launched the four-week Summer Reading Rewards Program, the foundation’s flagship initiative. Knowing that summer poses the highest risk for learning loss, she designed the program to combat it by providing books, work folders, and family support. To motivate young readers, she introduced a monetary reward system, allowing children to earn money for each book they read and submit a written report on—an allowance they could spend as they wished.
Through this initiative, the foundation does more than distribute books—it cultivates a community of readers. The impact has been profound, boosting children’s confidence and helping families embrace literacy as a lifelong habit. Since its inception, the program has reached nearly 2,000 children, built libraries in close to 300 homes, and expanded outreach to 21 states.
Robin’s journey—one shaped by resilience, determination, and a deep love for reading—has come full circle. She is ensuring that the next generation of children, especially those who need it most, will not only have books but will learn to wield the power of literacy to change their own lives. One summer at a time, she is helping them rewrite their futures.
