"The link beween academic failure, delinquency, and crime is welded to reading failure."
—NationsReportCard.gov
About I READ
Children who are reading proficiently by the third grade have a better chance of successfully navigating through middle school and staying on track to graduate high school. Through I READ, a program made possible through a partnership with The Literacy Council, we match volunteer mentors with kindergarteners for one-on-one reading attention. Mentors stay with their students through the third grade, helping them build strong literacy skills and instilling positive attitudes around reading.
Program reach
- Kindergarten thru third grade students at schools in Harlem, Meridian, Oregon, and Rockford school districts are matched with reading volunteers.
- Volunteers may partner with up to two students weekly for 30 minutes each during school hours at a school location.
- Each year, new volunteers are recruited, trained, and matched with incoming kindergarten students needing additional support as indicated by baseline data.
Volunteer
Due to COVID-19 and restrictions inside schools, we are currently not accepting I READ volunteers. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please keep us in mind, and check back to see when volunteers are allowed back in schools.
For more information, contact Pam Thompson, Community Investment Manager, at 815-968-5400 or email pam@unitedwayrrv.org.