June 2026 Newsletter
Letter from the Executive Director
As June 2026 draws to a close, the word that I keep coming back to is gratitude. Gratitude for our partner schools and our students’ parents believing in us and our programming, gratitude for our volunteers, gratitude for our sponsors and partners, gratitude for our board members – the list goes on. While the year has not been without challenges, we continue to be bolstered by the unflagging support of our village.
A few examples: the Central Baltimore Partnership donated 5,000 square feet to OKR for a 3-year rent-free lease to save the Baltimore Literacy Hub from shuttering its doors (in the nick of time I might add). Scholastic donated another 50,000 books that we are halfway through getting to low-income communities where they are needed the most. Our United Way and the Boys & Girls Club partnerships across the country have enabled us to double the number of children we will reach this year. A Princeton classmate of mine, principal of A Better World Studio (abw.studio), has offered to use an AI-centric approach to re-build our reading platform pro bono. Our Princeton University Reunions event brought another 50 students to campus for an inspiring Literacy Day. Our programming in Charlotte, NC has been renewed for a 4th year. I don’t want to steal the newsletter’s thunder, suffice to say, the organization continues to flourish thanks to the support of people like YOU! We could not do a fraction of what we do with your time, energy, gifts and constant encouragement. So thank you.
I’d like to call your attention to two areas we need your help:
- We are launching a fundraiser to support to expanded Free Book store (the largest in the country with over 100,000 books in inventory). Click here to make a gift.
- Thanks to a generous donation from a MD-based supporter, we are launching a silent auction featuring donated items from around the world. Click here to view the auction items.
Here is to an amazing summer for us all and continued growth and prosperity.
NOTE: We have a new/abridged newsletter format! Simple click the “read full story” links to view the full newsletter articles on the Our Kids Read website.
Warmest Regards,

Jahmal Lake
A New Home for Literacy in Baltimore
We are excited to share that Our Kids Read has been gifted a 5,000-square-foot facility in Baltimore, Maryland that will serve as the future home of our Baltimore Literacy Hub. This opportunity was made possible through the generosity of the Central Baltimore Partnership, a donor who believes in the power of literacy to transform lives.
This new space is a significant investment in the future of children, families, educators, and community organizations throughout Baltimore and the surrounding region. The Baltimore Literacy Hub will help us meet a growing demand for our programs and book distributions, providing a space where books can be received, organized, stored, and distributed efficiently.
Once fully operational, the hub will serve as a central location for processing and distributing thousands of books to schools, community centers, healthcare providers, literacy organizations, and families across the region. The facility will also support volunteer engagement, community partnerships, and future literacy-focused programming.
As we begin preparing the space, there is still important work ahead. Volunteers will play a critical role in helping us paint, organize, assemble shelving, sort books, and prepare the facility for operation. Community support will also help us secure the supplies and equipment needed to bring the vision to life.
We look forward to sharing updates as the space takes shape and welcoming volunteers, partners, and supporters into this exciting new chapter for Our Kids Read. (click here to volunteer)
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE CENTRAL BALTIMORE PARTNERSHIP FOR THIS INCREDIBLY GENEROUS DONATION!
Our Kids Read launches new website to spark national engagement
Our Kids Read launched a new website at: www.ourkidsread.org (the previous website launched in 2022 before many of the current programs were envisioned. Exciting new features include; Author’s Corner to feature author’s new releases, a re-envisioned volunteer portal and HubSpot integration to keep volunteers up to date about upcoming OKR events in their area.
A Look Ahead
- In partnership with the Myers Park United Methodist Church (MPUMC), Our Kids Read is expanding our Charlotte-based programming through a new “Fight the Summer Slide” initiative.
- Microsoft’s community grant allowed Our Kids Read to launch our first-ever programming in Washington DC at the Friendship Public Charter School, taking our Reading Buddies program to a new level!
- Fall 2026 looks towards a Reading Buddies program partnership with Shamrock Gardens Elementary School and Druid Hills Academy in Charlotte, NC. We are excited to continue expanding the reach of our one-on-one mentorship program to improve literacy for as many students as possible.
- During the 2026 - 2027 school year we will be donating ten (10) Little Free Libraries to communities across the DC/MD/VA area. We believe establishing a physical book presence in underserved communities across the country is critical to changing the direction of early childhood literacy levels. Stay tuned for a sign-up form for in our next newsletter where you can nominate a school or neighborhood for a Little Free Library.
Programming - Free Book Festivals
Our Kids Read Partners with Princeton Alumni for 4th Annual Reunions Service Event
Our Kids Read was excited to partner with the Princeton Classes of 2021, 2001, and 1981 for the 4th Annual Princeton Reunions Literacy Day service event.
This annual tradition brings together alumni from multiple class years to support literacy initiatives and give back to the community. As part of the event, volunteers worked alongside Our Kids Read to distribute books and engage with young readers, helping to promote a love of reading among children. Each student went home with 10 new books after touring exciting spaces in the library, like Special Collections, participating in an interactive storytelling performance, and partaking in conversations with Tiger volunteers.
Over the years, the Princeton Reunions service event has grown into a meaningful opportunity for alumni to connect not only with one another, but also with a shared mission of expanding access to books and literacy resources. By participating in this initiative, volunteers play a direct role in ensuring that children have the tools they need to succeed academically and beyond.
The continued support from Princeton alumni reflects a strong commitment to service and community impact. Our Kids Read is grateful for this ongoing partnership and looks forward to another successful year of collaboration and engagement.
Our Kids Read x Boys & Girls Club of Western PA Free Book Festival Gets Books and Smiles to Pittsburgh K-5th graders
It's always a good time partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania! The site of our December 2025 The Bus Stops Here x OKR Book Christmas Giveaway, the Lawrenceville clubhouse was again home to an exciting book giveaway and storytelling event.
Volunteers from Erie Insurance helped children select books as part of one of Our Kids Read's "Fight the Summer Slide" initiative. Families were able to select books to take home, helping to build home libraries and encouraging children to read over the summer. Special thanks as always to Scholastic for their generous gift of books to support this event.
Allowing children to choose books they find most interesting continues learning outside the classroom and combats the "summer slide." In addition to book access, the engaging storytelling featured in the event reinforced the importance of reading as both an educational tool and a source of enjoyment. The storyteller featured was Cynthia Battle, founder and executive director of Taarrifa Readers & Storytellers, a program also dedicated to literacy for children.
As part of their commitment to community engagement, Erie Insurance employees volunteered their time to support the event, helping to distribute books and engage directly with children and families. Their involvement played a key role in creating a welcoming and impactful experience for attendees.
This partnership highlights the power of corporate volunteerism in supporting literacy initiatives. Our Kids Read is grateful to Erie Insurance for their continued support and commitment to helping students stay engaged in reading year-round.
Our Kids Read’s Orange Reading Buddy Pilot Program Concludes with a Community Book Festival
Our Kids Read concluded our Reading Buddy Pilot Program in Orange, New Jersey, with the Orange Readers Book Festival. This event was a community celebration that encouraged summer reading and recognized the students who participated in the pilot program.
Students, families, local leaders, and community members gathered to celebrate literacy and reading engagement throughout the summer. Featured in the festival was a storytelling presentation by Queen Mother Imaku, a riveting storyteller who imbues her performances with history, culture, and creativity.
This event provided access to books and literacy resources, finishing the 8-week pilot with community and celebration of reading. We look forward to building on this program to bring the joys of reading to more families.
MedStar, Baltimore Parks & Recreation, and Our Kids Read Connect to Bring Books to the Baltimore Community
On Saturday, March 28, 2026, Our Kids Read partnered with MedStar and Baltimore Parks & Recreation to host a community literacy event at Reedbird Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland.
The event brought together families, volunteers, and community partners with a shared goal: to increase access to books and promote a love of reading among children in the Baltimore community. Throughout the day, children had the opportunity to select free books to take home, helping to build their personal libraries and encourage continued reading outside of school.
Volunteers from MedStar and the broader community played a key role in the success of the event, assisting with book distribution and engaging directly with families. Their support helped create a welcoming and energetic environment where children could explore books and discover new stories.
Our Kids Read is grateful to all partners and volunteers who contributed to making this event a success and looks forward to continuing to serve the Baltimore community through similar initiatives.
Our Kids Read brings the First African-American Automobile Designer, Emeline King, to tell Her Story at a Juneteenth Free Book Festival in Detroit
Our Kids Read was proud to partner with Ford Motor Company for a 2026 Juneteenth celebration at the Ford Resource Engagement Center (FREC) in Detroit, Michigan.
Now in its fourth year, this partnership continues to bring together community members, volunteers, and families to celebrate Juneteenth through literacy, culture, and education. The event featured engaging storytelling, cultural programming, and the distribution of free books to children in the community.
We were incredibly excited to host Emeline King to tell her story of being the first African-American female transportation designer with Ford Motor Company. Her journey is the exact kind OKR hopes to celebrate on Juneteenth, a story of Black excellence and determination that young children of color can listen to and be inspired by.
Juneteenth is a powerful opportunity to reflect on history, celebrate progress, and uplift voices through storytelling. By combining culturally relevant programming with access to books, the event created a meaningful experience that connects children to both their heritage and the joy of reading.
Through Ford Motor Company’s continued support, Our Kids Read is able to expand its reach and provide resources that help children build strong reading habits beyond the classroom. Families had the opportunity to select books to take home, supporting literacy development throughout the summer months.
Our Kids Read is grateful to Ford Motor Company for their ongoing partnership and commitment to empowering communities through education and engagement.
Grants/Support
Central Baltimore Partnership Makes Generous Donation of 5,000 square feet of Commercial Space to Keep OKR Baltimore Literacy Hub Alive!
In February 2025, Our Kids Read received an incredibly generous donation of commercial storefront space in the Eastpoint Mall in Baltimore, MD from MCB Real Estate. See the story here about how Scholastic, MCB Real Estate, the Sitex Group, and the Baltimore Community Foundation came together to create a beautiful "3rd space" for families in Baltimore to read, get 10 free books every weekend, and listen to storytelling performances.
In 2026 the Eastpoint Mall is scheduled to close, and the Central Baltimore Partnership stepped up to save the Our Kids Read Baltimore Literacy Hub! Thanks to an incredibly generous donation of 5,000 square feet of commercial space on Greenmount Avenue, we will not have to close the doors of this incredibly valuable community resource.
In fact, the donation will allow OKR to DOUBLE the number of children we serve (from 7,000 to over 15,000 children), and we will create the largest free book store in the United States with an inventory of over 150,000 books (thanks to Scholastic donations!).
Please click here to donate to support our operating expenses at our new Greenmount Avenue location.
Scholastic Makes 46,000 Book In-Kind Donation to Support Launch of Reimagined Baltimore Literacy Hub
Special thanks to Scholastic for their donation of over 46,000 new children's books (many of them books featuring Black and brown characters) to support the launch of the reimagined Literacy Hub. Scholastic has supercharged Our Kids Read's ability to distribute books at-scale to children across the country. This contribution represents one of the largest book donations in Our Kids Read's history and will play a critical role in expanding program reach and impact.
This is a gift to children not just in MD, but all across the country. The Literacy Hub will serve double-duty as a shipping hub to get books to NC, PA, IL, CA, OR, WA, NY, NJ, DC, TN, VA and OH. This large-scale donation will provide thousands of books to support Our Kids Read's core programming, including Reading Buddies, community book giveaways, and school-based partnerships. The donation will also strengthen the organization's ability to respond to increasing demand for literacy resources nationwide.
The partnership with Scholastic reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that all children have access to high-quality, engaging, and diverse reading materials. By leveraging this donation, Our Kids Read will continue to build home libraries and promote consistent reading habits among students.
Our Kids Read is grateful to Scholastic for their partnership and continued investment in advancing literacy for children and families.
The Karalakulasingam Foundation Generously Funds OKR "Fight the Summer Slide" Initiative
Our Kids Read's "Fight the Summer Slide" Initiative in NJ, MD and DC would not be possible without the generous financial support of the Karalakulasingam Foundation. A foundation dedicated to supporting the health and education of underserved populations, their aid will help students retain learning and reading levels frequently lost in the off-months of summer.
Our Kids Read is incredibly grateful to the Karalakulasingam Foundation for three years of consistent support for both our book distribution and remote reading/mentorship (Reading Buddies) programs. They are a key partner to further our mission of literacy and joyful reading, especially in the summer months when children are out of school.
Our Kids Read Receives Generous Gift of Pro-Bono Software Development Support from Princeton Alumnus
Dave Genetti, class of ’98 Princeton alumnus, alongside Zach Yeskel and Hugh Lynch, co-founder and co-builder of Google Classroom, make up a team at abw.studio who generously plans to build an enterprise software team for Our Kids Read. With an MOU signed on June 19th, 2026, we are excited to start working with their team in the coming weeks.
This software development will bring a new look to OKR, as well as help us implement AI to hone efficiency and reach more children. It will improve our ability to match students participating in Reading Buddies to appropriate mentors and create a system for reminding parents about their children’s upcoming reading sessions.
These improvements will help OKR expand its reach, broaden its impact, and streamline its operation, effecting students nationwide.
We are incredibly grateful to the abw.studio team for their generous pro-bono offer and all the help they will provide in the coming months.
Princeton Alumni Host Our Kids Read in a Backyard BBQ to Fundraise for new Literacy Hub
Princeton Tigers Katherine Jenkins '95 and McKay Jenkins *96 feature Our Kids Read in a backyard BBQ fundraiser for the new Baltimore Literacy Hub. Every year for decades, the Jenkins family, in cooperation with the neighbors to the right and the neighbors to the left, host a backyard barbeque with hundreds of guests. Each year, they select a non-profit to raise money for. This year, they selected Our Kids Read! They hosted a community gathering with food and joy, gathering those who believe in OKR's dedication to literacy and confident reading.
They raised over $5,000 to support the build-out of the new Literacy Hub. Many thanks to Katherine and McKay; we are honored and deeply grateful to have received fundraising support and continue fostering relationships with Princeton alumni.
Our Kids Read Named First Book “Book Wish” Awardee to Expand Access to Books
Our Kids Read has been selected as a First Book “Book Wish” awardee, providing access to additional books and resources to support children and families in underserved communities. First Book is a national nonprofit focused on increasing access to educational resources for children in need, with a network of over 600,000 educators and programs serving low-income communities.
Through this award, Our Kids Read will be able to expand its book distribution efforts, helping to grow home libraries and ensure that more children have access to high-quality reading materials. The award strengthens Our Kids Read’s ability to serve communities across its programs, including Reading Buddies, book giveaways, and school-based partnerships across the nation.
Our Kids Read is grateful to First Book for this recognition and partnership, and for their continued commitment to removing barriers to education and promoting literacy for all children.
Penguin Random House donates Pre-K board books to Our Kids Read
Penguin Random House has once again shown what it means to invest in the earliest stages of a child’s learning journey. In May, their generous donation of pre-K board books is helping our youngest readers build foundational literacy skills while discovering the joy of books in their own hands.
These early moments—turning pages, recognizing words, and connecting with stories—are where a lifelong love of reading begins. We’re deeply grateful for Penguin Random House’s partnership and commitment to ensuring every child has access to books from the very start.
Reading Buddies Program
Our Kids Read Partners with Microsoft to Launch Reading Buddies Program at Friendship Public Charter Schools
Our Kids Read partners with Microsoft to launch a new Reading Buddies program at Friendship Public Charter Schools in Washington, D.C.
The program pairs Microsoft employees with students in kindergarten through third grade for weekly one-on-one reading sessions. Each session is designed to help students build confidence, strengthen literacy skills, and develop a love of reading.
Microsoft employees will volunteer for 45 minutes per week over a five-week period, working directly with students and providing consistent support during a critical stage of their reading development.
This partnership represents an important step in expanding Our Kids Read’s Reading Buddies model. By working with corporate partners like Microsoft, Our Kids Read is developing a scalable approach that can be replicated in schools and communities across the country.
Our Kids Read is grateful to Microsoft and Friendship Public Charter Schools for their partnership and commitment to supporting young readers.
Charlotte Schools, with Support of Myers Park United Methodist Church, Launch “Fight the Summer Slide” Initiative
Our Kids Read partners with Charlotte schools, with support from Myers Park United Methodist Church, to launch a “Fight the Summer Slide” initiative focused on keeping students engaged in reading during the summer months.
The initiative includes a combination of Reading Buddies programming and book giveaways, providing students with both personalized reading support and access to books they can take home. Together, these efforts are designed to help prevent learning loss and encourage consistent reading outside of the classroom.
Through the Reading Buddies component, volunteers are paired with students for regular reading sessions, helping to build confidence and reinforce foundational literacy skills. In addition, book distributions ensure that students have access to reading materials throughout the summer.
This partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting students and addressing the challenges associated with the “summer slide.” By combining community support with structured programming, the initiative creates meaningful opportunities for students to continue learning and growing.
Our Kids Read is grateful to Myers Park United Methodist Church and its Charlotte partners for their support and commitment to empowering young readers.
OKR Partners with the State of NJ to Launch a Reading Buddies Pilot in Orange, NJ
Our Kids Read launched a program in cooperation with the State of NJ NJ4S-Essex program to bring Reading Buddies to residents of Orange, NJ. Reading Buddies connects elementary school students with caring, trained volunteer mentors for one-on-one virtual reading sessions that build far more than reading skills.
Through personalized support and encouragement, students strengthen their fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, confidence, and love of reading while developing meaningful relationships with positive role models.
At the same time, volunteers experience the reward of making a lasting difference in a child's life, creating a program that benefits both students and the communities that support them.
Organization Development
DORS Bowie State College Intern, Kamar Gray, Makes an Impact Growing Our Kids Read’s Hospital Book Distribution Program
Our Kids Read partners with the State of Maryland Department of Rehabilitative Services (DORS) to support student internship opportunities that strengthen organizational capacity and program delivery.
Through this partnership, DOORS student intern Kamar Gray has made a meaningful impact on the growth of Our Kids Read’s Hospital Book Distribution Program. Supporting day-to-day operations, Kamar has assisted with organizing inventory, preparing shipments, and helping ensure that books are delivered efficiently to partner hospitals.
His contributions have helped expand the reach of the program, which provides books to children and families in healthcare settings, offering comfort and encouraging literacy during hospital visits.
The DOORS partnership continues to play an important role in supporting Our Kids Read’s mission, while also providing students with valuable hands-on experience.
Our Kids Read is grateful to Kamar Gray and the DORS program for their continued support and commitment to making a difference.
New Team Members
Grants Team
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Sy Ahmad: Sy Ahmad is a project and contract management professional (PMP, FAC-COR II) with over twenty-five years of experience leading complex initiatives. Alongside his technical career, he serves as a university instructor and holds master's degrees in instructional design and information system management, reflecting a lifelong dedication to education and learning. He brings that same rigor and heart to advancing child literacy in his community. -
Karel Minor: Karel Minor is the President & CEO of Humane Pennsylvania, a national leader in animal welfare. Karel has served for over 30 years in the animal welfare, environmental, veterinary, and education non-profit sectors. As a consultant and trainer, he has worked nationwide to support organization transformation and has served in a wide variety of positions ranging from executive leadership to operations, education, fundraising, and development.
Princeton Internship in Civic Service Summer Interns
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Ridley Hoyte: Ridley Hoyte is a rising junior at Princeton this year in the Comparative Literature department, with minors in Classics and English. As a Princeton in Civic Service (PICS) intern, she works with Our Kids Read on social media projects, grants, and event planning. She is an avid reader and supporter of children’s literacy and hopes to explore teaching after graduation. -
Mason Dauber: Mason Dauber is a rising sophomore at Princeton from Seattle, Washington. He plans to major in English with a minor in Art History. As a PICS intern, he works on marketing, fundraising through grant writing, and organizational system development. His passion for reading and previous work with non-profits led him to Our Kids Read this summer. In his free time he loves to read, run (including a marathon!), and bake.
Key Partnerships
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Incorporates Our Kids Read Partnership into Catalyst 2026 Conference
Our Kids Read partners with Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society as part of their annual Catalyst 2026 Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
Through this partnership, Our Kids Read will be incorporated into conference programming, engaging student leaders in literacy-focused service and community impact initiatives. Participants will have the opportunity to support book distribution efforts and learn more about expanding access to literacy resources in their own communities.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to service, leadership, and education, connecting high-achieving students with meaningful opportunities to give back.
By integrating Our Kids Read into the Catalyst Conference, Phi Theta Kappa continues to strengthen its focus on community engagement while helping to extend the reach of literacy programming.
Our Kids Read is grateful to Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for their partnership and commitment to empowering students to make a lasting impact.
A Partnership Helping Pennsylvania Children Keep Reading All Summer Long
Our Kids Read is excited to partner with the Chester County Children's Foundation, led by Dr. Kim Minor and Karel Minor, to bring hundreds of books to low-income students in Chester County, PA, this summer.
The Chester County Children's Foundation is dedicated to helping children from underserved communities succeed by bridging the gap between home and school. Through enriching summer camps, after-school programs, literacy initiatives, and meal programs, the Foundation works to combat the "summer slide"—the loss of academic progress that many children experience during the summer months due to limited access to educational opportunities and books.
In partnership with Our Kids Read, the Foundation provides hundreds of brand-new, high-quality books to children each year, ensuring they have books to own, enjoy, and read throughout the summer. Together, the organizations are helping children strengthen their reading skills, build confidence, and develop a lifelong love of reading while expanding access to literacy resources for families who need them most.
Special thanks to Scholastic and BookDepot.com for their generous donations of books to support this initiative.
OKR Celebrates Hispanic Culture, Language, and Literacy at Día de los Niños event in Richmond, VA
Kortenay Gardiner, one of the original Our Kids Read board members (joined in 2022), continues to make OKR proud in Richmond, VA! Gardiner brought English and Spanish OKR books and storytelling to Broad Rock Library in Richmond, VA to celebrate Día de los Niños. For a 4th consecutive year, she helped distribute free children’s books in Spanish, bilingual, and English editions to families across the community. The event was filled with music, connection, and joyful moments, including children excitedly discovering books that reflected their language and identity. Storyteller Johanna Aguilar brought the experience to life through bilingual readings that encouraged children to see themselves in the stories and take pride in their heritage. Through culturally rich books and shared experiences, families engaged with literacy in ways that honored both tradition and growth. Events like these continue to create meaningful opportunities for connection, representation, and a shared love of learning.
Delivering Books, Building Opportunity
Over the past several months, Our Kids Read has continued expanding access to books and literacy resources for children and families across the country through a growing network of community partnerships.
Thanks to collaborations with hospitals, United Way organizations, schools, Boys & Girls Clubs, and community partners, thousands of books are now making their way directly into the hands of children who need them most.
Through a combination of large-scale book shipments and in-person distribution efforts at the Baltimore Literacy Hub, Our Kids Read has distributed more than 20,000 books in recent months alone. These books include early childhood titles, diverse stories, classroom collections, and family literacy resources designed to encourage a lifelong love of reading.
This work would not be possible without the incredible effort of volunteers, staff, students, and community supporters who help sort, pack, organize, and distribute books every week. On weekends, the Literacy Hub often transforms into a nonstop packing operation as teams prepare shipments for partners across multiple states.
Recent shipments have supported hospitals, literacy organizations, and family-serving nonprofits in communities including New Jersey, Detroit, Cincinnati, and beyond, with additional partnerships continuing to grow nationwide.
As Our Kids Read continues to scale its impact, these partnerships remain at the heart of the mission: ensuring that more children have access to high-quality books, stronger literacy support systems, and opportunities to thrive through reading.
We are deeply grateful to every partner, volunteer, donor, and supporter who makes this work possible.
Volunteers
Our Kids Read Volunteer Event at Saddlebrook Warehouse Mobilizes Over 50 Volunteers
Our Kids Read hosted a volunteer event on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the Saddlebrook Warehouse, bringing together over 50 volunteers to support book distribution efforts.
During the event, volunteers worked together to sort, organize, and process more than 20,000 donated books, preparing them for distribution across Our Kids Read programs and partner sites.
The event reflects the critical role that volunteers play in supporting Our Kids Read’s mission. By contributing their time and effort, volunteers help ensure that books reach children and families who need them most.
This large-scale effort strengthens Our Kids Read’s ability to respond to community needs and expand access to literacy resources.
Our Kids Read is grateful to all volunteers who participated in the Saddlebrook event and for their continued commitment to supporting young readers.
Travis Manion Foundation Veteran Volunteers Expand Literary Access to Children
Our Kids Read was honored to welcome volunteers from the Travis Manion Foundation to our warehouse for a recent service event focused on supporting literacy and educational access for children and families.
During the event, volunteers helped unpack, organize, and arrange thousands of books that will be distributed to students and communities through upcoming Our Kids Read programs. Their hard work and dedication played an important role in helping us prepare books for young readers and families.
We are incredibly grateful to the Travis Manion Foundation and all of the volunteers who generously gave their time and energy to support our mission and help expand access to books and literacy resources.
Orange Reading Buddy Pilot Culminates in Community Book Festival
This spring, Our Kids Read partnered with NJ4S Essex to launch a Reading Buddy Pilot Program in Orange, New Jersey, connecting local students with volunteer reading mentors for weekly one-on-one reading sessions.
Over the course of the pilot, students built reading confidence, strengthened literacy skills, and developed meaningful relationships with caring adult volunteers. The program provided consistent opportunities for students to practice reading in a supportive environment while fostering a lifelong love of books.
The pilot concluded with the Orange Readers Book Festival, a community celebration designed to encourage summer reading and recognize the students who participated throughout the program. Families, educators, community partners, and local leaders came together to celebrate literacy and the importance of keeping children engaged in reading during the summer months.
A highlight of the event was a special storytelling presentation by Queen Mother Imaku, an acclaimed storyteller known for bringing history, culture, and imagination to life through her performances. The event also provided children with access to books and literacy resources to help support continued reading throughout the summer. By combining mentorship, storytelling, and book access, the Reading Buddy Pilot and Book Festival demonstrated the impact that community partnerships can have on improving literacy outcomes for young readers.
Our Kids Read is grateful to NJ4S Essex, Orange Public Schools, community volunteers, and all of the families who participated in making this pilot a success. We look forward to building on these efforts and continuing to create opportunities for children to discover the joy of reading.
Upcoming Events
Volunteer and Book-Packing Event
Location: Saddlebrook Warehouse, Saddlebrook, NJ
Building Out New Space
Location: Baltimore, MD
Back-to-School Event, Friendship Public Charter Schools
Location: Washington, D.C.

