| Our Kids Read Quarterly Newsletter |
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Letter from the Executive Director |
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What a year so far! The world is in turmoil, and it seems like Our Kids Read and its services are needed more now than ever. We appreciate everyone’s patience waiting on this newsletter. We’ve spent the last six months restructuring the organization to make ourselves smarter and leaner, capable of withstanding these turbulent times. It's been six months since our last newsletter, so we have over 100 updates to communicate and are struggling to decide the best format. See below, the “OKR Update in 60 Seconds,” for ye of little patience who want the “sound bite.” For everyone else, grab some popcorn and enjoy all 111 updates (yes, we counted) below. 😊 Here's the summary of our Spring, Summer, and Fall activities in just a few words: → Over 15,000 students served with free book festivals
→ Over 300 students enrolled in our one-on-one Reading Buddies virtual reading program (poised to scale to 3,000 next year!)
→ A $3M in-kind donation of children’s books by Scholastic!
→ Over 20,000 square feet (about four times the area of a basketball court) of warehouse space in NJ and MD donated by MCB Real Estate and the Sitex Group
→ Boys & Girls Club and six new school Reading Buddies programs initiated What we need now is your help to scale. We have one of those “good problems.” We have six corporations waiting to enroll their staff as Reading Buddies. We have four new schools excited to receive the Program. We need your support to streamline our Program and deliver value. Please consider including Our Kids Read in your philanthropic giving this year. Gifts of any size are welcome and appreciated. Preliminary results from the Reading Buddies program are promising, showing greater increases in reading fluency among students in our Program compared to their counterparts who elected not to participate. But we need your help. To scale, we need to hire staff. I have pledged not to take a salary for nine months, so we are looking to hire only an admin and a project manager for the organization. I do not often appeal for your support, but this is one of those rare times. If you can give, please give generously this giving season. We have had a couple of our Board members step up and pledge to match any gifts up to $10K.
Enjoy the newsletter, and as always, thank you to everyone who donates their time, energy, and resources to help bring about real change. We have done our best to acknowledge all our nuclear and extended family here, but if we have forgotten anyone, please forgive us!
Have a safe and peaceful holiday season, and I look forward to working with you all to uplift the children we serve. Warmest Regards, Jahmal Lake
Executive Director, Our Kids Read
jahma...@ourkidsread.org |
Key Community & Corporate Partnerships → Scholastic: $3M in-kind book donation over three years. → Princeton University: Accepted OKR into the Princeton Internship in Civic Service (PICS) and Princeternship programs for the third consecutive year → Microsoft: 40 new Microsoft Reading Buddies in 2025; partnership strengthened by an Oct 27–30 Read-a-Thon and a planned collaboration on OKR’s reading platform upgrade → KPMG: Partnered with Our Kids Read to bring KPMG Reading Buddies to the Women in Need (WIN) homeless shelter and Charlotte, NC Reading Buddies programs → Expansion of OKR’s Charlotte, NC footprint, adding Shamrock Gardens Elementary to schools participating in the Reading Buddies program → Partnership with the State of NJ (NJ4S – New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services) to bring Free Book Festivals and Reading Buddies to Essex County Title I elementary schools → Partnership with Dotsquares, a certified HubSpot partner, to automate key areas of the OKR enterprise Reading Buddies → Essex County, NJ: Launched a program with 12 employees reading with students in East Orange, Orange, and Newark → Portland, OR: Successful pilot with volunteers from Adidas, Nike, Multnomah County, and Orrick; second program scheduled for January 2026 → Women in Need, NYC: Launched two Reading Buddies programs with volunteers from Verizon Somos and KPMG in Spring and Fall 2025 → Gen Digital: Successful Read-a-Thon pilot with 20 employees reading with 20 students for five days in May 2025 → RxBenefits: Successful pilot in April 2025 with 18 employees reading with 18 students; renewed for a Nov 17–21 Read-a-Thon Baltimore Free Bookstore → Impact: 7,000+ books distributed to 800+ students → Partners: Scholastic, MCB Real Estate, Baltimore Community Foundation, Sitex Group, Petrucci Family Foundation → Enrollment: 145 students signed up for Reading Buddies after visiting the Hub → Volunteer Support: Washington University in St. Louis Engage, Friends School of Baltimore, Roland Park Country School, Travis Manion Foundation Organizational Updates → New Board Members: Jonathan Tennis (Advisory), Kim Carney (Strategy), Calpurnia McLean (Advisory), Damon Dennis (Executive), John Gilmartin (Advisory) → Maryland Department of Rehabilitative Services (DORS) Program Partnership: Through our partner, Family New Life, OKR receives interns every month who support the Baltimore Literacy Hub and special projects (12 interns to date, two more onboarding within the next five days) Free Book Festivals → Portland, OR (Sept 2025): 60 students from Boise-Eliot Elementary School visited Nike HQ for a Literacy Day → Friendship Armstrong Public School: 600+ books to 120+ students → Friendship Chamberlain: 720 books to over 90 students → Princeton University Reunions: 348 books to 48 Trenton students → Storefront Academy, Harlem, NY: 300+ books donated and storytelling from Western and Eastern Africa → Pittsburgh, PA: Distributed hundreds of books and hosted storytelling at the Jasmine Nyree Center thanks to a generous grant from Erie Insurance → KIPP Public Charter School (Sept 2025): Distributed hundreds of books during back-to-school night → Harlem, NY (July 2025): 1,000 books given away at a “Pop-up in the Park” → Forest Edge Elementary School (April 2025): 300+ books donated with support from Microsoft → Detroit, MI (June 2025): 244 books distributed for the Ford Foundation/FREC Juneteenth celebration Book Distribution Partnerships → Trenton Literacy Movement: 400 books for Juneteenth 2025 celebration → Children’s National Hospital, Washington, D.C.: 500+ books donated to the pediatric wing → Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: 1,460 books for the Diversity Matters book drive → Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Hospital, NJ: 2,000+ books for book carts → Morristown Hospital, NJ: 2,000+ books for hospital book carts → Omega Psi Phi: 1,000+ books donated to support a “Books and Barbershops” initiative Grants & Awards → Erie Insurance: Second consecutive grant to host a literacy event at the Jasmine Nyree Center in Pittsburgh, PA → Sitex Group: 14,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space donated for 2025–2026 ($320K in-kind donation) → MCB Real Estate: 3,500 sq. ft. of warehouse space donated for 2025–2026 ($120K in-kind donation) supporting the Baltimore Literacy Hub → Mountainside Development Corporation: 6,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space donated for 2025–2026 ($144K in-kind donation) enabling Scholastic book deliveries → Penguin Random House: Book donations valued at more than $25K |
Our Kids Read Giving Tuesday Fundraiser |
Our Kids Read is in an incredible growth phase! In these next 3 weeks leading up to Giving Tuesday—the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the largest day of giving for nonprofits across the country—we’re launching a community-wide 250K fundraising challenge to help us hire staff and scale our impact in 2026! This year, we’re challenging our supporters to come together and meet one of these goals: → 250 people to donate $1,000 → 500 people to donate $500 → 50 people to donate $5,000 If times are tight, please know that every dollar makes a difference. A gift of $25 or $50 from enough members of our OKR village can go a long way toward helping us reach more children, train more mentors, and distribute more books nationwide. You can support Our Kids Read in several ways: → 💻 Make a direct contribution: https://www.ourkidsread.org/make-a-donation → 💙 Give from your Donor Advised Fund (DAF) → 🏛️ Federal employees can give through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC): Our Kids Read was accepted as a National CFC Charity this year! You can support OKR through a recurring payroll contribution.
Click here to access the CFC charities page, search for “Our Kids Read Association” or enter our CFFC Charity ID 10331. → ✉️ Mail a check to: Our Kids Read Association
5457 Twin Knolls Road, Suite 300 #1001
Columbia, MD 21045 Together, we can ensure that every child learns to read, lives to read, and discovers the power of their own story. Thank you for your support in these three weeks, Tuesday, 11/11/2025 – 12/2/2025 leading up to Giving Tuesday (12/2)! |
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| Saturday Volunteer Event – Saddlebrook, NJ
CANCELLED – We received terrible news that the son of a close friend passed recently and the funeral conflicts with this event. We are cancelling to support our brother. Thanks to everyone who signed up, we will re-schedule for MLK Day, Monday, January 19th, 2026. support. |
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| Friday Free Book Festival at the Women in Need (WIN) Shelter, Brooklyn, NJ |
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| Saturday Free Book Festival in partnership with Jerome Bettis’ The Bus Stops Here Holiday Toy Drive and Book Giveaway (hosted by the Pittsburgh Boys & Girls Club and the Jasmine Nyree Center) |
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| Monday Kick-off of second2nd Boys & Girls Club Reading Buddies Program |
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| Monday Kick-off of Charlotte, NC Winter Reading Buddies programming |
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| Monday Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Volunteer Event – Saddlebrook, NJ
For those in the NY/NJ area, please come out to help us sort, organize, and pack books! Schools and community organizations are welcome to take 100 free books as a “thank you” for your volunteer support. Click HERE to register! |
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Our Kids Read Donates 7,000th Book at the Baltimore Free Book Store! In a historic first, Our Kids Read opened the country’s first free bookstore on February 15. On November 1, we captured the moment when we gave away our 7,000th book at the Baltimore Literacy Hub! The Hub serves as a community gathering place for storytelling, free books for children to take home, and a registration center for our free evening virtual Reading Buddies program. Special thanks to Scholastic for the donation of over 100,000 books to fuel the Literacy Hub. Special thanks also to the Baltimore Community Foundation for the renovation grant and to MCB Real Estate and the Sitex Group for the donation of warehouse and storefront space.
Click here for a video about the Baltimore Literacy Hub. |
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Our Kids Read and the Boys & Girls Club of Portland Bring Reading Experiences to Portland 3rd Graders
OKR kicked off a Reading Buddies partnership with the Boys & Girls Club this summer with an eight-week reading experience for children at the Lionel Clegg Clubhouse in Portland, OR. Students read with Reading Buddy volunteers from Nike, Adidas, and Multnomah County. Special thanks to the fantastic Boys & Girls Club staff for helping facilitate the program and inviting us back this winter to conduct a second Reading Buddies program. |
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Our Kids Read Partners with the Classes of 1975, 2010, and the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni (APGA) for a Reunions Literacy Day! For the third consecutive year, Our Kids Read brought 50 students from Trenton to Princeton University’s campus for a Literacy Day! In partnership with the Classes of ’75, ’10, and the APGA, OKR brought students from Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School to Princeton’s campus for a tour of Firestone Library and a special program at the Cotsen Children’s Library, a campus tour, literacy-focused activities with Tiger alumni, and a powerful storytelling event by master storyteller Susan Danoff ’75. Special thanks to the Cotsen Library staff, Dana Sheridan, and Katie Zondlo, who coordinated a special program for the children, and many thanks, of course, to the Classes of ’75, ’10, and the APGA for their support. |
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Princeton University Cotsen Children’s Library: Supporting OKR’s Reunions Literacy Days for Three Years Running
Our Kids Read partnered with Princeton University’s Classes of ’75 and ’10 and the APGA on May 22 for a special Literacy Day during Princeton Reunions. Fifty fifth graders from Trenton’s Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School received free books and toured Princeton’s campus, visiting Firestone Library’s Special Collections and the Cotsen Children’s Library, home to rare and historic children’s books.
The visit continued a three-year collaboration between Our Kids Read, Special Collections, and Cotsen, and concluded with a storytelling and journaling workshop that inspired students to reflect on the connection between reading, learning, and self-expression. Cotsen staff members Dana Sheridan and Katie Zondlo reflected on the joy of watching students experience the library. “Even going down the stairs of Firestone Library…the excitement of them just walking down those stairs and being inside the library—it’s contagious,” said Zondlo. Sheridan described the visits as a chance for kids to unplug and connect: “It’s just simply, this is what humans are meant to do and meant to do really well…to get this rare moment of having that unrestricted is just really wonderful.”
Both praised Our Kids Read Executive Director Jahmal Lake for his “vision, leadership, and deep love of what he’s founded,” noting that his passion makes continued collaboration irresistible. Looking ahead, Sheridan and Zondlo plan to create new experiences for future visits, possibly themed around upcoming Cotsen exhibits, while keeping the Library a joyful, welcoming, and free space for all. |
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Erie Insurance Partners with Our Kids Read for a Second Year to Bring Literacy and Joy to Pittsburgh Families Our Kids Read is proud to celebrate its growing partnership with Erie Insurance, whose continued support is helping children in Pittsburgh discover the joy of reading. This year marks the second consecutive year Erie Insurance has sponsored an Our Kids Read Free Book Festival at the Jasmine Nyree Center, bringing books, storytelling, and smiles to dozens of children and families. Erie Insurance also supported the 2nd Annual Our Kids Read Gala at the Yale Club last year, helping raise vital funds to expand literacy programs nationwide.
We are deeply grateful to the Erie Insurance volunteers for their enthusiasm and compassion during the festival. Their presence and commitment to the children served by the Jasmine Nyree Center embody the spirit of community that drives Our Kids Read’s mission—to spark joy, affirm identity, and nurture lifelong readers. Together, we’re building brighter futures, one story at a time. |
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Microsoft and Our Kids Read Partner to Bring Reading Buddies to Forest Edge Elementary Our Kids Read proudly partnered with Microsoft this year to launch the first-ever OKR Reading Buddies after-school program at Forest Edge Elementary School. The program paired students with dedicated Microsoft volunteers for weekly one-on-one reading sessions focused on fluency, confidence, and the joy of storytelling. Special thanks to Principal Brittany Rogers for her leadership and partnership, and to the 42 Microsoft Reston, VA employees who volunteered their time to read with Forest Edge students and make this pilot a tremendous success. We also extend heartfelt thanks to Stephen Kauffman and Angie Olson, who spearheaded a book drive in Redmond, WA and organized a Microsoft Read-a-Thon from October 27–30, engaging more than 20 additional Microsoft employees nationwide. Their creativity and enthusiasm exemplify the spirit of collaboration that defines this partnership. We are deeply grateful to Microsoft for its continued support—not only in Reston and Redmond but also through their involvement in our Women in Need homeless shelter program in New York City and Reading Buddies initiatives in Charlotte, NC. Together, we’re helping children across the country fall in love with reading, one book and one buddy at a time. |
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OKR partners with the Women in Need (WIN) Shelter to Deliver Reading Experience to Children Living in the Shelter The Women in Need (WIN) organization has been an extraordinary partner in Our Kids Read’s mission to bring the joy and confidence of literacy to children in underserved communities. Through our Reading Buddies Program at WIN shelters, K–5 students experiencing housing instability are paired with caring adult volunteers from companies such as Verizon SOMOS, KPMG, and Nike. These volunteers meet weekly over Zoom to read aloud, build fluency, and nurture a lifelong love of books. This partnership has allowed children to experience consistency, encouragement, and empowerment through reading—even in the midst of life’s most difficult transitions. In October 2025, Our Kids Read proudly launched a second Reading Buddies program at WIN’s Park Slope shelter in Brooklyn, expanding our reach to even more children and families. This important work at WIN is made possible in large part by the generosity of the R. Karalakulasingam Family Foundation, which renewed its support for the Reading Buddies Program in November 2025 with a $10,000 grant. We are deeply grateful to WIN for their unwavering partnership—and to the Foundation for helping us sustain and grow this life-changing literacy initiative |
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Omega Psi Phi and Our Kids Read Bring Books to Barbershops to Promote Literacy The New Jersey Chapters (2nd District, Corridor 4) of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. partnered with Our Kids Read (OKR) to launch the Little Omega Libraries in June 2025, tackling literacy gaps through community barbershops as informal learning spaces. OKR donated 1,000 children’s books to 20 barbershops across ten cities—Englewood, Jersey City, Paterson, Newark, East Orange, New Brunswick, Somerset, Asbury Park, Trenton, and Camden.
Matt Stevens, Chair of the Fraternity’s Fatherhood and Mentoring Committee, notes: “Children are encouraged to read while waiting for haircuts. Our goal is to consistently promote literacy through community development and mentoring.”
Planned expansion of OKR x Omega Psi Phi Partnership in 2026: During National Mentoring Month (January), outreach will extend to NY, PA, DE, and MD, each receiving 1,000 books, culminating in June Father’s Day Cookouts and book fairs to combat summer reading loss. |
Our Kids Read and Smart Start of Mecklenburg County Inspire Young Readers in Charlotte Our Kids Read was thrilled to partner with Smart Start of Mecklenburg County for an unforgettable storytelling and book giveaway event in Charlotte, NC—sponsored by the Young Readers Society. The celebration brought the magic of reading to life for hundreds of young children and their families, featuring Willa Brigham, a two-time Emmy Award-winning storyteller, inspirational speaker, and “Midnight Quilter.” Willa’s vibrant performance captured the imaginations of every child in the room, inspiring laughter, curiosity, and a love for stories that reflect who they are and the world they live in. This event was made possible thanks to the Young Readers Society, a youth-led nonprofit founded by two high school students from the American School in London. Their team generously covered the shipping and handling costs for 2,000 books delivered to Charlotte, ensuring that every child who attended went home with free, culturally rich stories to call their own. Our Kids Read extends heartfelt thanks to Smart Start of Mecklenburg County, Willa Brigham, and the remarkable students of the Young Readers Society for their shared commitment to putting books—and the joy of reading—into the hands of children who need it most.
High School Students Form Our Kids Read Clubs
Our Kids Read has expanded its youth engagement through new high school connections, uniting students around the shared goal of fostering literacy. One such partnership began with Amaia Ellis, a student at the Friends School of Baltimore and the organization’s first high school Reading Buddy. After volunteering at an Our Kids Read event, Amaia was inspired to join the Remote Reading Buddies program and was paired with a five-year-old named Cadence. Reflecting on the experience, Amaia said, “Books…can be so fun and so informative. I really wanted to share that with some kids who are having issues reading.” She noted the joy of watching Cadence grow more confident and enthusiastic about reading, emphasizing that the program not only strengthens children’s literacy skills but also builds meaningful intergenerational connections.
At the Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest, NJ, student Skylar Toddings founded and now leads the first-ever high school Our Kids Read Club. With a deep love of literature and prior experience in youth literacy advocacy, Skylar connected with Executive Director Jahmal Lake through her father, a Princeton alumnus. Skylar shared that Lake’s mission “really resonated” with her and inspired her to launch a club that recruits Reading Buddies. The club, which began with 17 members, meets regularly to support one another and share their experiences.
Both Amaia and Skylar highlight how powerful high school involvement can be in transforming young readers’ perspectives. Skylar expressed concern that “a lot of kids are fine with a phone now instead of a book,” and believes high schoolers can show children “this other door that they can totally go through” where “learning is fun, learning is great.” Their stories exemplify how youth-led initiatives can reignite excitement for reading, strengthen communities, and help nurture a new generation of lifelong learners. |
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Our Kids Read is Strengthened by Princeton Student Interns Two interns, Keomali Johnston and Madison Rose, have joined the Our Kids Read family through the Princeton Internships in Civic Service (PICS) program. Through the John H. Pace, Jr. ’39 Center for Civic Engagement, the PICS program offers undergraduate students paid internships with nonprofit community partner organizations. PICS interns practice community service, gain professional experience, and form bonds with alumni mentors.
Keomali Johnston ’28 is from Madison, WI, and is majoring in English. Madison Rose ’26 is from Old Bridge, NJ, and is majoring in Psychology and plays for the Princeton Women’s Basketball team. |
State of Maryland Department of Rehabilitative Services (DORS) Interns Provide a Much-Needed Boost in Baltimore
The Family New Life Community Center has been an invaluable partner to Our Kids Read, helping connect interns from the Maryland Department of Rehabilitative Services (DORS) with meaningful work experiences that build employable skills. As a nonprofit dedicated to supporting students with disabilities, Family New Life Community Center plays a vital role in preparing young people for success in the workforce.
At Our Kids Read, DORS interns have contributed in countless ways to the success of the Baltimore Literacy Hub—assisting customers in finding books, managing data entry, conducting Internet research, organizing inventory, assembling furniture, and handling book unboxing and packing. Their dedication and enthusiasm have strengthened the organization’s ability to provide free literacy resources to children and families across Baltimore. This collaboration not only supports Our Kids Read’s mission to promote literacy and learning but also exemplifies the power of inclusive partnerships that empower all individuals to contribute their talents to a greater cause. Our Kids Read Extends Book Access via Little Free Library Partnership Our Kids Read continues to make a lasting impact on local communities through its Little Free Library program, which provides families and children with free access to diverse and engaging books. The organization was recently accepted into the inaugural Little Free Library Read in Color program, a national initiative celebrating neighborhood libraries that amplify diverse voices and stories.
In 2025, Our Kids Read installed four new Little Free Libraries across Maryland: The Goddard School in Laurel, Rolling Terrace Elementary School in Takoma Park, and two Baltimore sites: Fort Worthington Elementary School and Woodhome Elementary School. These installations not only increase book access in underserved areas but also serve as gathering points for families and educators to celebrate reading together.
With additional support staff hired to maintain and expand the program, Our Kids Read is strengthening its role as a literacy leader, fostering community connections, and making reading more inclusive—one Little Free Library at a time.
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Our Kids Read Association, 5457 Twin Knolls Road Suite 300-1001, Columbia, MD 21045, USA, 888-840-7342 |
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