Mission Statement
To increase children’s success in school and life through one-to-one reading and mentoring experiences with caring volunteers.
How does everybody win?
Students win by enjoying consistent and positive interactions with caring adults.
Volunteers win by enjoying meaningful and worthwhile experiences and the satisfaction of knowing they are making a positive impact on the future of a young child.
Schools win by seeing improvement in their students’ literacy skills without assuming any administrative burden or cost.
Companies win by offering a simple, efficient way to enhance employee morale and from the positive effects of providing a valuable service to the community.
How do we do this? With our Power Read Program!
Our signature program is Power Read, where volunteer reading mentors are matched one-to-one with a student for about an hour each week and together they read and engage in conversation. Programs may take place during breakfast, lunch, after-school, or evening dinner sessions primarily at elementary schools or through community organizations. Students are suggested for our program by teachers based on three areas: students are struggling with reading, are English language learners, or they might benefit from having a positive ongoing mentoring experience. These consistent, positive interactions aim to provide students with a dependable role model who works to strengthen their confidence with regard to reading.
Each week mentors and students talk, read, and bond over books with the hope of instilling a positive attitude about reading to our students. The mentors serve as role models, enhancing students’ self-esteem and encouraging their success through these consistent, weekly, positive interactions. Everybody Wins! Iowa complements the education students receive in the classroom by providing a safe, low-pressure setting to practice their reading skills and grow their confidence outside of the classroom. Our program’s simple equation—one mentor, one child, one book at a time—produces powerful results.
If this sounds like something you want to do, click here to apply to volunteer! Or if you would like to help support us in other ways, you can click on Donate or Follow Us for upcoming, one-time events
