On Sunday, March 15, Team Read Ahead will be running 13.1 miles through New York City to make a difference for public school students.

Every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential, but far too many students are struggling with one of the most foundational skills for success: reading.

In New York City public schools, only around 50% of elementary school students are reading on grade level, and that number drops to 40% or less for Black and Brown students. According to one recent study, reading achievement gaps compared to before the pandemic are worse now in most grades than they were in 2021.

Every student can become a joyful, confident, and fluent reader with the right support. Read Ahead intervenes early, providing weekly sessions designed to help 1st - 5th graders develop literacy skills, a love of reading, confidence, and more. Through reading together, conversations, and fun literacy games and activities, Read Ahead mentors provide essential 1:1 support to help their mentees thrive.

Your donation helps provide the resources needed to make Read Ahead possible, including:
✅ Laptops & headsets for students to use to log into their weekly Read Ahead sessions
✅ Annual subscriptions to a virtual library and research-backed literacy learning platform
✅ Classroom supplies for in-person sessions
✅ Background checks and training for volunteers
✅ …and more!

 

 

Read Ahead 2025 Marathon Team
Read Ahead 2025 Marathon Team

Resume Slideshow

Board member Nick at the 2025 Marathon
Board member Nick at the 2025 Marathon

Resume Slideshow

2025-2026 Mentee Orientation
2025-2026 Mentee Orientation

Resume Slideshow

Book donation at P.S. 92
Book donation at P.S. 92

Resume Slideshow

Every dollar raised and mile run in this year’s #UnitedNYCHalf ensures the longevity of our program and mission. By helping Team Read Ahead reach our goal, you'll become a part of the community of supporters that make it possible for Read Ahead to continue to innovate and meet our mission.

$27,424.76

achieved

$30,000.00

goal

of your goal reached

Register Now

Read Ahead Impact

Read Ahead is proud to have delivered nearly 1,388 Read Ahead sessions to students at 8 public elementary school partners during the 2024-25 school year. Our accomplishments over the past year include:

  • Mentor & mentee pairs read over 2,000 books together and completed over 31,000 learning units

  • 99% of educators would recommend Read Ahead to their peers

  • 92% of educators and caregivers state that their child benefited from being in Read Ahead

    • Reading ability, self-confidence in reading, and enjoyment of reading were the top academic benefits cited

    • Positive interactions with adults were the top non-academic benefits cited

  • Attendance for mentors and mentees (a measure of program engagement) was 90% and 91% respectively, across the year

Distributed over 1,700 books, 140 backpacks filled with school supplies, and 100 snack packs to Read Ahead students and others at our public elementary school partners.

Check out our recent accomplishments in our 2024-25 Impact Report.

Other Ways to Donate

Read Ahead is also pleased to accept donations via check, ACH transfer, credit card, or donation of appreciated stock.

Check
Please make checks payable to Read Ahead and return to:
Read Ahead
Attn: Development Dept.
50 Broad Street, Suite 502
New York, NY 10004

ACH / Wire Transfer
To make your contribution by bank ACH or wire transfer, please direct all funds to:
Chase
120 Broadway
New York, NY 10271

Account #: 978932393
Routing #: 021000021
Account Name: Read Ahead, Inc.

Stock Donations
We are able to accept donations of appreciated stock via transfer to our account. Please email development@readahead.org for more information.

Donor-Advised Funds
We accept donations from donor-advised funds. To get started, please visit here or email development@readahead.org.

Want to multiply the impact of your gift? Ask your employer if they will provide a corporate match for your donation. You can notify the Read Ahead team of any matching funds by filling out this form.

Please contact Lucille Song, Senior Manager, Development Operations at development@readahead.org with any questions.

Supporters

  • Christian Jensen March 2026 $25.00
  • PRH March 2026 $60.00
  • Anonymous March 2026
  • Heidi Li March 2026 $100.00
  • Christian Hodges March 2026 $50.00
  • Claudette Cunitz March 2026 $53.00
  • Lucy Earl March 2026 $100.00
  • Lucy Earl March 2026 $100.00
  • Nick Jean-Baptiste February 2026 $2,000.00
  • Robert Ward February 2026 $750.00
  • Kandelle Brice January 2026 $530.00
  • Google February 2026 $500.00
  • Ben Trachtenberg February 2026 $500.00
  • Latham & Watkins LLP February 2026 $500.00
  • Penguin Random House February 2026 $421.50
  • PRH March 2026 $338.03

Recent Activity

Team Read Ahead for the 2026 United Airlines NYC Half Marathon Leaderboard

View Full Leaderboard
  • 1 Nick Jean-Baptiste $2,000.00
  • 2 Robert Ward $750.00
  • 3 Kandelle Brice $530.00
  • 4 Latham & Watkins LLP $500.00
  • 5 Ben Trachtenberg $500.00
View Full Leaderboard

How Read Ahead Makes a Difference

slide 1

Resume Slideshow

slide 2

Resume Slideshow

slide 3

Resume Slideshow

slide 4

Resume Slideshow

About Read Ahead

Read Ahead is dedicated to helping New York City youth strengthen the literacy and social-emotional skills they need to thrive in school and beyond. Since 1991, Read Ahead has connected public elementary school students with caring mentors from leading corporate and community partners. During weekly virtual sessions, mentors and mentees read together, discuss books and their lives, and engage in fun and educational games and activities. Read Ahead sessions are designed to help children grow their confidence, love of reading, literacy skills, and other skills essential for success. 95% of educators and caregivers surveyed felt that their child benefited from participating in Read Ahead. Read Ahead is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization rated as four stars on Charity Navigator. Learn more at readahead.org.

Full Color Logo.png

Read Ahead
50 Broad Street, Suite 502
New York, NY 10004
marathon@readahead.org