About Read2Me
We are a program of Tacoma Community House that strives to enrich lives by inspiring people to volunteer through sharing the joy of reading. We advocate for and create opportunities which nurture lifelong learners in the communities we serve. Our vision is to create a literate world one child at a time. We work within the community with parents, caregivers, and children to promote the message of reading success. We support the school systems’ efforts for every child to reach benchmark reading goals by the time they enter fourth grade. Click HERE to watch an informational video about the program. When you click on the link, scroll down the index and click on "Read2Me: Producer Andrew Hillier." Read2Me History Read2Me began in 1988 when a Franciscan Hospital executive provided fifty volunteers to help with reading at a local elementary school. Known as SMART at its outset, the program emphasized tutoring and mentoring within the Tacoma Public Schools. Several years later it changed its name to Werlin Reading. As a result of a merger with the Pierce County Reading Foundation, which focused on early literacy, the name was changed to Read2Me. In 2011, Read2Me was adopted by Tacoma Community House, a non-profit organization with a successful history of providing literacy services and working with volunteers. Tacoma Public Schools continue to support the program both with funding and with space and staff in the schools. Since its inception, Read2Me has helped over 8,500 children. |