Nonprofit Reading & Radio Resource to shutter amid financial issues

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Reading & Radio Resource

Reading & Radio Resource was founded in 1969 and will close by the end of the year.

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Korri Kezar

Staff Writer- Dallas Business Journal

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Dallas Reading & Radio Resource, a nonprofit that offers a radio show and distributes books, newspapers and test materials to the blind, will close its doors next week.

In an email sent Tuesday, Interim Executive Director Dave Owen informed the nonprofit's volunteers that the organization, which was founded in 1969, will record its last radio program on Dec. 7 and discontinue its distribution by Dec. 9.

The group's building at 2007 Randall St. in Uptown has also been sold, according to sources close to the organization. Owen, however, declined to comment on whether a purchase has actually been made, saying only that RRR has hired a broker to look at a sale.

After the shut down, Dallas Reading & Radio Resource will funnel its money, including profits from the sale of its building, and other resources into nonprofits with similar goals.

"In December, RRR will begin a transition to what it believes will be a more effective model for serving those with reading disabilities," Owen said in the email. "Under this new model, RRR will shift its focus from content creation and distribution to a project-funding model through grant-making and support of other nonprofits that have similar missions and effective delivery models."

The silence heard when RRR shuts down will extend beyond Dallas-Fort Worth. The organization also simulcasts its radio programs in Austin. After recording stops, so will broadcasts in the state's capital.

Volunteers said they had no forewarning about the shut down and were shocked at how quickly the organization is closing.

Frank Wright, who has served with RRR since 2008, said he sensed changes were coming to the nonprofit when many of its staff members quit over the past few months. Still, the time frame was startling, he said.

Korri covers banking, finance and nonprofits for the Dallas Business Journal. Subscribe to our email newsletters.