Read Ahead

10/20/2026

To celebrate , the Read Ahead staff have shared some of their favorite children’s books that our publisher partners have generously donated to our students over the past year. We are grateful for the opportunity to share a love for reading with our student community, thanks to , , and .

10/02/2026

We are so grateful for all the volunteers from who dedicated their time to building 200 “I Love Reading” and oral hygiene kits for students at our partner schools, P.S. 125 and P.S. 130, for . These kits help our students start the school year excited to read. Thank you, Colgate-Palmolive!

08/07/2026

Our program team is thrilled to reach the midpoint of our 4-week summer pilot program at one of our longtime partner schools!⁠
Designed to accelerate literacy growth, this pilot pairs six wonderful rising second graders with our dedicated Program Managers—who are stepping into mentor roles—for targeted sessions twice a week using the Lexia Core5 platform. We look forward to sharing our findings, celebrating student progress, and applying key insights to our ongoing work!

08/06/2026

Read Ahead is still accepting mentor applications for the 2026-27 school year. If you have volunteered for us previously or work for one of our corporate partners, check your inbox for the next steps.⁠
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We have three upcoming virtual info sessions for new and returning mentors this month. During each session, a Read Ahead staff member will answer your questions and give a brief overview of our program, the volunteer commitment, and the application process. If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a mentor, what to expect during the school year, joining us for one of these sessions is a great way to get all of your questions answered.

Register here: https://readahead.org/mentoring/info-sessions
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Feel free to email our team at [email protected] with any questions.

We look forward to kicking off our program this Fall!

05/29/2026

Our 2025-26 program concluded on a high note with our in-person sessions. During the last two weeks, we welcomed our mentors to our partner schools to celebrate the progress their mentees have made throughout the school year. The days were filled with book giveaways, games, and, above all, joy! We are already looking forward to welcoming the students back next year when our program resumes. If you are interested in mentoring for the 2026-27 school year, please reach out to our team at [email protected].

05/26/2026

Earlier this month, Paul Hastings graciously hosted us alongside their clients at their New York office for an event dedicated to connection and community impact. ⁠
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During the evening, we assembled literacy kits that were later distributed at one of our partner schools in Manhattan during our in-person sessions last week. We are grateful for Paul Hastings' ongoing support in uplifting our program and the NYC students.

05/01/2026

Read Ahead's Authorship Award is presented annually during our gala to inspiring individuals who are writing a better story for New York City children, families, schools, and communities.⁠
Yesterday, Paul Hastings presented P.S. 111's Clara Harvey, Assistant Principal, and Gloria Jean-Bernal, Parent Coordinator, with their Authorship Awards.⁠
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Team Paul Hastings is represented by more than 30 mentors this year, the vast majority of whom are returning for another year of service. We are really grateful to Paul Hastings to have serve as the inaugural Student First Sponsor for our Books & Beyond Gala.⁠
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05/01/2026

Yesterday, we honored AEA Investors and the 21 years of partnership between our organizations at our 2026 Books & Beyond Gala. We're grateful for their ongoing support and the 300 mentors who have positively impacted the lives of our students since 2005.

Discover more about how AEA has uplifted Read Ahead's work through our honoree video below ⬇️

AEA Investors and Read Ahead first joined forces over a shared belief in the power of reading-based mentorship for NYC elementary school students. Throughout the partnership, which began in 2005, nearly 300 mentor/mentee pairs have spent an hour per week reading, talking, and building integral liter...

04/30/2026

Last night’s Books & Beyond Gala was nothing short of extraordinary. ✨⁠
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Because of this incredible community—our board, sponsors, corporate partners, mentors, and friends—we came together to celebrate the power of reading and raise critical support for NYC students on their journey to becoming confident, joyful readers.⁠
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We were proud to honor AEA Investors for over 20 years of steadfast partnership and volunteerism, and to celebrate Assistant Principal Clara Harvey and Parent Coordinator Gloria Jean-Bernal of P.S. 111 for their unwavering commitment to building a thriving Read Ahead community.⁠
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To everyone who showed up, gave generously, and believes in the potential of every child: thank you. Your support ensures that our students don’t just read—they grow, explore, and succeed beyond the page.⁠
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If you were not able to join us but would like to show your support for our mission, donate here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/booksbeyondgala2026/

04/23/2026

This Volunteer Appreciation Week, we honor the volunteers who dedicate their time each week to mentor our students throughout the school year. Through their support, our mentees gain the confidence they need to thrive in their reading journey.⁠