What is 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. During weekly Read Ahead sessions, mentors (volunteers) and mentees (children in grades 1-5) read together, discuss books and their lives, and engage in fun and educational games and activities. Read Ahead’s new virtual program is designed to help children grow their confidence, love of reading, literacy skills, and more.

Who will benefit from this campaign?

Read Ahead partners with public elementary schools in New York City where the majority of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch (a measure of economic need). Over 90% of children in Read Ahead identify as BIPOC and we work closely with teachers and families to identify children who would benefit from extra, individualized support from a caring mentor.

How will my donation be used?

To continue to provide consistent, weekly support for students through our virtual program, Read Ahead has invested in a new educator-designed literacy platform, access to a virtual library, hardware (including laptops and headsets), virtual training and background checks for volunteers, additional pay and benefits for our frontline staff, and more. Your generous support provides essential funding that can be directed where it’s needed most.

Is this donation tax deductible?

Read Ahead is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep your email donation receipt as your official record. We'll send it to you upon successful completion of your donation.