Everybody Wins! literacy program:
Weekly Reading Buddy to students Kindergarten through 3rd Grade
- Commit to 1 hour per week when you are available to be a substitute mentor during the duration of the program.
- Programs typically run from October to Mid-May
- Engage in literacy-based activities with your buddy (reading, journaling word searches, Bananagrams, etc.)
- Please note: this is NOT a tutoring program, but rather we focus on fostering positive experiences around literacy
Questions? Call Kyle Fahsel , Director of Mentoring at (412) 321-8022 ext. 333
2025 - 2026 School Year Sessions:
- Pittsburgh Public Weil, Hill District on Tuesdays at 10:30am and 11:15am
- Pittsburgh Public Faison, Homewood on Wednesdays at 12:00pm, 12:45pm and 1:30pm
- Pittsburgh Public King, Northside on Thursdays at 9:45am and 10:30am
Required Clearances:
- Criminal Record Check (Act 34)
- Child Abuse Clearance (Act 33)
- Fingerprint Based Record Check or Pennsylvania Resident Waiver (for eligible volunteers)
- Check out the clearance guide on our website for more details
All 3 clearances are good for 5 years from when you originally obtained them. To be valid for School Year 2024-25 clearances must be dated June 2020 or newer.
About our Program:
Everybody Wins! is a literacy mentoring program that strives to build literacy skills and a love of reading in elementary school students. This program pairs kindergarten through third-grade students with corporate and community volunteers to share conversation and read together. These consistent, one-on-one experiences increase a child’s opportunity for success, both academically and in life.
Throughout the year, students look forward to spending time with their Reading Buddies and benefit from the encouragement of a caring adult and opportunity to read stories together, while mentors enjoy sharing their love of books and the satisfaction of having a meaningful impact on a young person’s life. Formal evaluations have demonstrated that Everybody Wins! is one of the very few programs to effectively impact low-income students in reading comprehension, motivation and achievement, as well as overall academic performance, classroom behavior, self-confidence and social skills.