Each year, Lead to Read KC helps our community answer a powerful call: show up for a child.
So far an incredible 1,450 volunteers have committed to being Reading Mentors for the 2025-26 school year. That puts us at 82% of our goal—an incredible milestone. We’re deeply grateful to each of them.
But 500 students are still waiting.
It might sound like a big number, but for many schools, just one or two more volunteers can make the difference between opening a classroom—or not. We only launch a classroom when every (or nearly every) student has a mentor.
At Lead to Read KC, we believe literacy is a community effort. Every child deserves a consistent, caring adult who shows up every week and helps them fall in love with reading. That kind of connection doesn’t happen by chance. It happens because someone like you says, “I can give 30 minutes a week.”
When a Reading Mentor walks in, something shifts. As one Whittier Elementary teacher shared:
“I had one little boy who was very shy and quiet, but when it came time for Lead to Read, he really liked his reading mentor and his face would light up every week. He was a struggling reader, but I could see him trying with his mentor.”
We hear stories like this across 34 schools and 4 districts: students try harder. Smile more. Feel seen.
“Several of my students from the past two years gained a lot of confidence and a love for reading by having a reading buddy!” – Teacher, Primitivo Garcia Elementary
And 100% of educators report a positive shift in students’ attitudes about reading. But 500 kids are still unmatched, and school starts soon.
So here’s our ask:
If you’ve ever thought about becoming a Reading Mentor, now’s the time.
If you’re already mentoring—thank you. Can you invite a friend? A coworker? Your book club?
It’s easy. It’s impactful. It matters.
Let’s make sure every student who wants a mentor has one because every child deserves someone who shows up just for them.
Ready to sign up or help us recruit? Visit leadtoreadkc.org/volunteer.
