August Updates | Lead to Read KC

We Need You!

Our Reading & Mentoring program has been requested in 28 schools, and we need your help to help those students build brighter futures!

Reading Sessions start in some schools as early as mid-September, and we’re still recruiting Reading Mentors to read with students in high-need elementary schools for 30 minutes each week.

How to help:

If you’re new to the program, go to our website to learn more and apply. View a map of the seven schools that have the highest need for volunteers and review the Reading Session Schedule.

If you’re returning, we can’t wait to see you! Your Site Coordinator will be emailing you session details in the next two weeks. Get ready for your sessions by reviewing the training videos on our YouTube channel. If you still need to confirm for the fall, email volunteer@leadtoreadkc.org.

Reading Mentor Schedule >>

A Fond Farewell

Director of Administration Sarah Gaikwad has been with Lead to Read KC since the beginning. During her tenure, Sarah championed many efforts that helped us grow our Reading & Mentoring program to serve 28 schools and introduce new programs to support Kansas City children.

After 12 years of hard work and dedication, she’s decided it’s time for a new adventure. Find out what’s next for Sarah and Lead to Read KC.

Books, Books and More Books

Three months ago, we asked the community to help fill our bookshelves and wow, did you deliver! Newmark Zimmer Kansas City alone brought in more than 3,000 books!

Thank you to every business, school, group and individual who contributed! Whether you hosted a book drive, dropped off books or shopped at Books-A-Million (which collected 609 books!), we appreciate you!

We'll let you know when our shelves start looking bare again.

Summertime Fun

Local children's book author Tony Temple and his daughter Stori presented an interactive read-aloud of Animal Movements with fun activities for children at the Loose Park Garden Center earlier this month. Yogurtini was on hand with free frozen yogurt, promoting their Books for Yo program. Plus, the Yogurtini on the Country Club Plaza donated 20 percent of its proceeds from the day to support our programming!

Congratulations to our ProX Summer interns, Troy Vanatta, Amelie King, Amina Mbengue, Lauren Somogye, and Nedra Seigfreid! They won the Student Showcase Grand Prize for their "Read Around the NFL" proposal to encourage reading outside school! We are so proud of them and loved having them on our team.

Since 2011, Reading Mentors have been the heart of Lead to Read KC. Learn why one of our volunteers returns year after year.

CHARITY PARTNER | Many thanks to Boulevard Brewing Company for selecting us as its charity partner this month! Not only did they host a free Bingo Night, but they also donated $5 from every Community Crowler sold during August to fund our programming.

SEE YOU AT THE FAIR | Stop by our booth at the Plaza Art Fair on Sept. 22, 23 and 24! Bring your young readers and learn how you can help other young readers in KC.

IN THE NEWS | Our Executive Director Pauly Hart was on KCUR’s Up To Date recently as part of a panel discussing Kansas City schools’ low reading proficiency rates and the community’s role in getting young readers back on track.

SECOND SATURDAY SORTING | Are you or someone you know looking for a fun, easy weekend volunteer opportunity? Help Lead to Read KC sort and process book donations at our office in the Nonprofit Village the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Sign up here!

STAY UP TO DATE | Follow Lead to Read KC, and please like, comment on and share our posts on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Help a child build a brighter future. Donate today >>

12 years of creating a community of readers, one lunch hour at a time.