Reading to Kids Welcomes 20,000th New Volunteer

Los Angeles, Calif. - Thursday, April 6, 2017 - Reading to Kids hits a monumental milestone with the organization's 20,000th unique volunteer.

Reading to Kids' first reading club, held in May 1999, included just 8 volunteers who read to 20 children at Gratts Elementary School near downtown Los Angeles. Since that first reading club, the organization has grown and thrived. The monthly book clubs now include 8 partner Los Angeles elementary schools, 400-500 monthly volunteers, and regularly serves 800 – 1,200 children each month.

"From that tiny beginning we have grown to become a popular volunteering opportunity to make a difference in children's lives!" states Charlie Orchard, the Managing Director.

Pairs of volunteers read to groups of elementary school children the second Saturday of every month, as well as work with the kids on crafts projects related to that month's book. Reading to Kids then gives to each child a book to take home and keep, and donates the read-aloud books to their partner schools' libraries. Volunteers help to organize, coordinate and run the monthly books clubs and the Reading to Kids organization itself.

On March 11th, Reading to Kids welcomed their 20,000th volunteer, who together has inspired a total attendance of 155,207 children over the last 17 years. Their next monthly reading club is this Saturday, April 8th.

About Reading to Kids

Reading to Kids is a grassroots organization dedicated to inspiring underserved children with a love of reading, thereby enriching their lives and opportunities for future success. On the second Saturday of every month, Reading to Kids brings together a diverse group of volunteers from across Los Angeles to help instill the joys of reading and of the arts. For more information about Reading to Kids, or to sign up as a volunteer reader, please log onto www.readingtokids.org.