Reading Where Kids Already Are: Boys & Girls Club of Rockford’s Approach to Literacy

At United Way, we have set a bold goal: by 2034, 75% of third graders will read at grade level. It’s an ambitious target and reaching it means showing up consistently, creatively, and in every corner of the community.

That’s exactly what Boys & Girls Club of Rockford is doing.

As a United Way funded partner, Boys & Girls Club of Rockford serves more than 1,000 members across six club locations throughout the Rockford area. Every day after school, kids walk through those doors and are greeted not with homework pressure or a test — but with a book and someone ready to read with them.

Built Into the Day

Literacy isn’t a once-a-week add-on at Boys & Girls Club of Rockford. Staff read with kids every single day before tutoring sessions begin. It’s low-pressure, relationship-driven, and intentional. It's the kind of consistent exposure that research shows makes a difference in early reading development.

If a member discovers a book series they love, club staff will procure it on their behalf. That’s not a small thing. It signals to a kid: your interests matter here, and we’re invested in you as a reader — not just as a data point.

Literacy Nights: Taking It Home

The Boys & Girls Club of Rockford hosts multiple Literacy Nights at each of the community club locations. These events are designed to extend the culture of reading beyond the club walls and into families’ homes. Kids and caregivers come together, celebrate reading, and every family leaves with books in hand.

The literacy kits distributed at these events are made possible through United Way funding, which also helps support Boys & Girls Club staff and reading specialists who work directly with members. It’s a pipeline from community investment to a child holding a book they can call their own.

Reading with Dogs: Science Meets Joy

Here’s where things get especially good.

Boys & Girls Club of Rockford runs a “reading with dogs” program — and if you’ve ever watched a child relax into a story while a calm, friendly dog listens alongside them, you already understand why it works.

The research backs it up. Reading aloud to an adult can create real anxiety for struggling readers, which affects their willingness to practice and, by extension, their growth. According to a 2023 study published in The Reading Teacher, when children were asked to read aloud to a therapy dog, their blood pressure and heart rate reduced to normal levels and observable signs of anxiety decreased. That shift matters enormously for kids who have learned to associate reading with embarrassment or failure.

The reason is intuitive: since dogs are incapable of showing judgment, students tend to feel more comfortable with their reading abilities and more inclined to read in future situations. Children themselves have said it plainly — “I felt a lot more relaxed when I was reading” and “it helped me keep trying because I didn’t feel judged.”

A review of therapy dog research in classroom settings found that stress levels are lower when children interact with a dog, and that a dog’s presence in an educational setting can help reduce the social anxiety that often holds struggling readers back. For kids navigating stress at home or falling behind their peers, that calmer environment isn’t just nice to have — it can be the difference between shutting down and opening up.

Beyond anxiety reduction, a systematic review published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science found that dog-assisted reading programs show promising results including gains in reading accuracy, oral reading fluency, and comprehension, along with more positive attitudes toward reading overall.

Meeting Kids Where They Are

United Way’s goal isn’t just to fund programs. Our goal is to be woven into the fabric of community life, reaching kids and families in the places they already trust and spend their time. Boys & Girls Club of Rockford is exactly that kind of presence.

With six locations across the area, an after-school program with over 1,000 members, daily reading built into every afternoon, and dogs who shows up ready to listen without an ounce of judgment — this is what it looks like to meet kids where they are.

United Way of Rock River Valley funds Boys & Girls Club of Rockford as part of its bold goal to get 75% of Rockford-area third graders reading at grade level by 2034. To learn more or support this work, visit unitedwayrrv.org/united-for-literacy.