Kyle's Reading Goal:  For every $5 you all donate, I pledge to read 10 pages!! The goal is to beat 1,000 pages for the month of MARCH!

YOOOOOOO! Welcome to My 2025 Read-A-Thon Page!

As I journey through the boundless landscapes of literature, I find myself in the presence of giants—Giovanni, Angelou, Baldwin, Brooks, Wright, Hughes, and countless others who not only looked like me but dared to carve out space for our voices, our truths, and our stories. They refused to let the weight of a world stacked against them silence their words, and in doing so, they built a literary lineage that continues to empower, enlighten, and liberate.

This fundraiser is my call to action—a tribute to the power of storytelling and the mission of literacy equity championed by Open Books. Through my involvement with this incredible organization, I am committed to expanding access to books, fostering a love for reading, and ensuring that no child is ever deprived of the written world’s magic. As a lifelong reader, I can only wish that a program like this existed when I was young when I first realized that words were both refuge and rebellion.

 My Reading Pledges:

• Pledge 1: For every $5 donated, I commit to reading 10 pages. My goal is to surpass 1,000 pages this March. Every dollar brings me closer to this milestone, and all donation amounts are warmly welcomed.

• Pledge 2: For my BIG BOOKWORM donations of $50 or more, you can choose a book (400 pages or less) for me to read and review. Whether it’s a classic, a hidden gem, or something completely unexpected—throw it my way, and I’ll dive in.

No amount is too small. Every contribution fuels the fight for literacy access. Donate what you can, spread the word, and let’s build a world where every child can pick up a book and see themselves within its pages.

And remember: WE REAL COOL.

Love Always, KT

Open Books' Associate Board is hosting a month-long Read-a-Thon throughout March 2025, in honor of National Reading Month, to raise funds and awareness for Open Books' signature reading and book access programs. Considering Open Books' mission to support literacy skill development and encourage everyone to enjoy reading, this is a fantastic opportunity to get involved and show why you love to read! Please consider supporting one of our readers or joining in the fun yourself - you can sign up here or contact development@open-books.org to learn more and get started. 

This year, the Read-a-Thon team is working hard to raise $45,000 for Open Books' literacy and book access programs. Consider what your donations can support:

$25 can provide books and supplies for one 1st or 2nd grader in our year-long Reading Buddies program
$50 can support a month of upkeep of our Little Free Library network in Lawndale
$100 can provide 30 new, high-interest book titles for our youth book granting efforts
$250 can fund supplies for one of our eight-week-long Early Childhood Literacy Residencies in at-home daycares
$500 can support the development of resources for parents and caregivers in our target communities

Open Books' Mission

Open Books is a nonprofit literacy organization that helps transform lives through reading, writing, and the unlimited power of books. We partner with communities to ensure that youth and families have equitable access to be lifelong readers. Open Books is committed to working in community with our neighborhood partners toward a collective effort to grow and foster a literacy-strong Chicago. We work to break down systemic barriers to reading and literacy and build strong values of reading. Through neighborhood partnerships, we design and implement literacy initiatives for youth, families, caregivers, and communities on the South and West sides of Chicago by providing high-quality resources, experiences, and book-centered spaces. We employ people power and a variety of pathways for books to fuel our placemaking initiatives so that reading can happen anywhere, anytime. To learn more, please visit www.open-books.org.