Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream

08/21/2026

30 Years of Stories That Inspire | Survey says…this one belongs in the Always Dream history books ✅

Ten years ago today, Kristi, Lori, and the Yamaguchi family appeared on Celebrity Family Feud and won $25,000 to support Always Dream! It’s a fun chapter in our history, and one of the many stories that has helped shape three decades of dreaming big for children and families.

Thirty years of Always Dream has given us plenty of stories to tell, and we couldn’t celebrate this milestone without pulling this fun favorite from the archives.

08/19/2026

Our hearts are with the students, families, educators, and communities across Hawaiʻi who have been impacted by Hurricane Lala, including our school partners on Hawaiʻi island.

We know the days ahead will be focused on caring for one another and beginning the work of recovery. Book Coaches are in contact with our school partners to determine their needs and be ready to go with programming when they are.

We are deeply grateful to the first responders, neighbors, local leaders, and so many others who are caring for communities across the islands during this difficult time. To our Always Dream ʻohana across Hawaiʻi: we are with you.

08/17/2026

08/14/2026

Mahalo, Elevate 808 and Here in Hawaii, for featuring Kristi Yamaguchi and Always Dream in a recent episode! We’re grateful for the opportunity to share more about Kristi’s journey and our work helping Hawaiʻi keiki and families build strong foundations for a lifetime of reading and learning.

If you’re in Hawaiʻi, catch the episode of Elevate 808 on Spectrum OC16 TV

Upcoming September airings:
September 16 at 9:30 PM
September 17 at 2:30 AM
September 18 at 12:30 PM
September 19 at 8:00 AM
September 20 at 4:00 PM
September 21 at 10:00 AM & 11:30 PM

Stay tuned for the episode on YouTube soon. A big mahalo to Nolan Hong and the Elevate 808 team for helping us share our story and the importance of family engagement and early literacy in Hawaiʻi.

08/12/2026

Always Reading enrollment is underway!

Our Book Coach Val has been visiting our Hawaiʻi Island partner schools, including Nā‘ālehu Elementary and our newest partner, Mountain View Elementary, to connect with pre-K and kindergarten families and share how Always Reading can support them in building joyful reading routines at home.

We’re excited to welcome new families into the Always Reading community and be part of their reading journey this school year!

08/04/2026

Scenes from summer! ☀️📚 As the new school year approaches, we’re reflecting on a summer filled with stories for families in our Always Reading program.

Last school year, Kenzo explored his interest in battleships and tanks through books on the digital library. This summer, that curiosity inspired a family visit to the Yamato Museum, a shipbuilding museum in Kure, Japan!

Kenzo also participated in our Sunny Stories Summer Reading Challenge, reaching the goal of reading 30 books in the month of June.

Way to go, Kenzo! We love seeing how stories can inspire real-world adventures and create meaningful family memories.

07/30/2026

🚨 Final call! Early Bird pricing for the 2026 Always Dream Annual Gala ends Friday, July 31st!

✔️ Celebrate our 30th anniversary
✔️ Honor Dream Maker Dean Osaki
✔️ Enjoy an unforgettable evening with our Always Dream community
✔️ Help bring more books, family support, and joyful reading routines to children who need them most.

This is one celebration you won’t want to miss...and it’s expected to sell out.

Reserve your sponsorship or tickets today at the link in our bio or tinyurl.com/alwaysdreamgala.

07/22/2026

Tickets are officially live for Kristi Yamaguchi’s Family Literacy Festival! 🎟️✨

Bring the family for a day of live entertainment, local celebrity storytimes, and endless discovery.
By securing your tickets today, you’re not just planning an incredible day of fun for your family – you’re supporting vital early literacy initiatives across San José.

🗓️ Saturday, September 5
⏰ 9:30am to 4:30pm
📍 Children’s Discovery Museum, 180 Woz Way, San José
🎟️ Secure your tickets now: https://alwaysdream.org/kristi-yamaguchi-family-literacy-festival/

This event is a literacy collaboration between Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream, Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, and San José Public Library Foundation, to promote the importance of reading.

07/22/2026

In case you missed the news: we're growing the Dream Team!

We know that when families have the right support, children thrive. That's why our Book Coaches are at the heart of our Always Reading program, working to encourage caregivers, connect with teachers, and help families build joyful reading routines that last a lifetime.

We're currently hiring for:
📖 Family Literacy Book Coach (📍Oʻahu | Full Time)
📖 Family Literacy Book Coach (📍Maui/Molokaʻi | Full Time)
📖 Family Literacy Book Coach (📍Oʻahu | Part Time)

If you're passionate about early literacy, family engagement, and making a meaningful difference in your community, we'd love to hear from you. Learn more and apply: https://ats.rippling.com/always-dream/jobs

P.S. know someone who would be a great fit? Please share this opportunity with your friends, family, and network.

07/18/2026

School might be out, but the stories keep coming. In June, families participating in our Sunny Stories Summer Reading Challenge logged 2,375 books explored in 30 days! By reading throughout the summer, children head back to school ready for a strong start in the fall.

We're deeply grateful to every donor who supported our summer campaign. Because of you, families continue to have access to books and literacy resources during the months when they're needed most. Thank you!

P.S. Know a young reader in your life? Help keep the momentum going by picking up a book and reading together today. 😊