HI, I'm Deirdre and I serve as SitStayRead's Interim Executive Director.

My personal community and I are excited to participate in Read-a-palooza 2024, a month-long reading challenge and peer-to-peer fundraiser supporting Sit Stay Read, Inc. Our collective passion for this cause drives us, and we are asking for your support! Every donation—big or small—helps us reach our fundraising goal and directly impacts the organization's capacity to deliver literacy enrichment programs to Chicago students. 

Volunteer Book Buddies and Certified Reading Assistance Dog teams (like us!) are finally back in Chicago Public Schools this fall as well as kicking off a new partnership with the Chicago Public Library. 70% of CPS students are still reading below the national average and we can shift this together with evidence-based curricula and compassionate small-group support.

Here's how you can help:

• Donate: Contribute whatever you can. Every dollar counts!
• Spread the Word: Share our fundraising page with your friends, family, and social networks. Let’s spread awareness so we can raise more!
• Celebrate: Join us on Saturday, October 12 from 10 am to noon at Fred Anderson Dog Park and Park in the South Loop for book and doggy-treat giveaways, prizes, raffle, entertainment, and snacks.  Some of our students will join us to get backpacks full of new books!

Thank you so much for your support! We couldn’t do this without you!