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Reading to Kids News
February 19, 2026
 

Dear Friends of Reading to Kids,

Even though last Saturday's reading clubs fell on Valentine's Day and a 3-day weekend, 307 kids, 182 volunteers, 50 parents, and 21 teachers & staff helped to make our February 14th reading clubs a success!

25% of the entire student body of White Elementary and 18% of the kids at Esperanza joined us on Saturday! stars iconstars icon

2nd graders enjoying a book at the reading clubs
Click on the above or below images to see any full size

Kids enjoyed creating Valentine's themed crafts like these created at Politi and MacArthur Park!

Kindergarten Valentine crafts at MacArthur Park Elementary        2rd grade valentine crafts at Politi Elementary

3rd graders were inspired to create their own homes after hearing If You Lived Here: Houses of the World and seeing the many types of dwellings found around the world.

Book and 3rd grade house craft at MacArthur Park Elementary        3rd grade house crafts at MacArthur Park Elementary
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MARCH 14TH READING CLUBS

Please be sure to sign up for the next reading clubs, which are filling up quickly!

Click here to submit your RSVP for our "Music & Entertainment" clubs, then "join" the March 14th reading club event on Facebook and invite your friends!

We'll need hundreds of volunteers for these March reading clubs, so be sure to sign up early and recruit your friends, co-workers, and family members as volunteers!

That morning generous musicians will be sharing the gift of music with students at each of our seven schools. Click here to find out who is scheduled to perform at your favorite school!

Medleys A Cappella singing to the kids after reading to them at Magnolia Elementary

THANK YOU, LESSA, PATRICIA, & JASON!
MORE OPERATIONS VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED MARCH 14TH

Lessa Acosta with her 100th reading club milestone certificate and 100+ name badge
(Click on the above or below images to see any full size)

Patricia Bergey with her 80th reading clubs milestone certificate   Site Coordinators and volunteers with Patricia Bergey and Jason Axe holding their reading clubs milestone certificates

On Saturday at Gratts Elementary, Site Coordinator Lessa Acosta received her 100th reading club milestone certificate and special 100+ name badge!

At MacArthur Park Elementary, GLC and Site Operations Helper Patricia Bergey also received her 80th milestone certificate, along with one of our founders, Jason Axe, who received his certificate for his 290th reading club! They are on each end of the above photo on the right! stars icon 

BE LIKE LESSA, PATRICIA, & JASON!

Every month we urgently need experienced volunteers to take on more leadership with us by checking in volunteers as they arrive, helping train new and returning volunteers, being a GLC, or especially being a second or third Site Coordinator at any of our schools.

If you can help in any of those roles, please e-mail us at info@readingtokids.org to help create wonderful reading clubs!

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CAN'T RUN 26 MILES OR 5K?
THEN PLEASE SUPPORT OUR
2026 MARATHON & 5K RUNNERS!
DONATE OR HAND OUT WATER
DURING THE RACE!

Team Reading to Kids LA Marathon runners

Please support Team Reading to Kids as they run the Los Angeles Marathon on March 8th or the LA Big 5K on March 7th!

They have until March 8th to reach their ambitious $20,000 fundraising goal! If you can donate a buck a mile to your favorite runner, you'll help fuel them towards the finish line!

They have been training for months over hundreds of miles, and so far our runners have raised $7,470 in support of our monthly reading clubs.

Your donation will make all their months and miles of training pay off in books for the kids we serve!

Team Reading to Kids banner

With every mile they train and every dollar they raise, these valiant souls help you inspire kids with a love of reading.

HAND OUT WATER DURING THE MARATHON!

Help represent Reading to Kids during the Los Angeles Marathon on March 8th by handing out water to the runners!

Our group will be at Water Station Mile 9 at Hollywood Blvd & Hobart Blvd., on Sunday, March 8th from 5am - 11am.

Click this link to sign up! Our group is Reading to Kids, so just complete the form and sign up to join our three volunteers who have signed up already!

Reading to Kids volunteers at the Mile 9 water station       Reading to Kids volunteers at the Mile 9 water station with marathon runner Chris Martin

If you can't join us at the above, then donate your support as our runners continue training for hundreds of miles!

Team Reading to Kids 5K runners
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PLEASE HELP US FIND
MORE BINGO PRIZES & AUCTION ITEMS

Drag Queen Bingo!

Our next Legendary Bingo fundraisers at Hamburger Mary's in West Hollywood will be on May 20th and in the fall! Please help us gather prizes for auctions and bingo winners that night!

To help you get started, here is information about Reading to Kids to share with potential donors, as well as a donation form for them to complete.

We especially enjoy awarding gift certificates, amusement park and theater tickets, gift bags, and autographed items! Anything unique is great, too!

If you work at or have a connection with products or services to offer, please help us by asking for a donation to our events.

You may have gift cards you haven't used which would make excellent prizes if you'd like to donate them to us! E-mail us at info@readingtokids.org to arrange mailing them to us!

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HELP US FIND GRANTS!

Jessica Brown-Clark with Target grant check

Did you know Reading to Kids receives about half of our funding from corporate and foundation grants? For example, since June 2021 eight of our volunteers helped us receive $160,000 in grants from their employers!

Please check to see if your employer offers grants that Reading to Kids can apply to and let us know at info@readingtokids.org! You may help us buy thousands of books for kids!

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Thanks, and we hope you can join us at our next reading clubs on Saturday, March 14th!

Sincerely,

Charlie Orchard, Yancy Rodriguez Coe, & Anna Davies
Reading to Kids
1600 Sawtelle Blvd, Suite 210
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 479-7455
(310) 479-7435 (FAX)
info@readingtokids.org
www.readingtokids.org
www.facebook.com/readingtokids
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Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/readingtokids.org
www.instagram.com/readingtokids

Make a donation:
www.readingtokids.org/HowToHelp/HelpDonate.php

MARCH 2026
Reading Club RSVPs
School RSVPs Capacity
Alta Loma 30 32
Esperanza 25 27
Gratts 16 20
MacArthur Park 21 26
Magnolia 25 27
Politi 15 29
White 27 39
TOTAL 159 200
MARCH Books. . .
Kindergarten book
Kindergarten
First Grade book
First Grade
Second Grade book
Second Grade
Third Grade book
Third Grade
Fourth Grade book
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade book
Fifth Grade

Reading to Kids is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Visit www.readingtokids.org for more information.

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