Programs
Empower Communities Through Reading
Read 2 Lead Program
Reading Starts With Us
Under The GrowLit Project, Inc.
Read Boldly. Lead Bravely.
At The Grow Lit Project, Inc., we believe literacy is the foundation of leadership.
Our mission is to grow lifelong readers, critical thinkers, and confident leaders by expanding access to diverse books and empowering communities through the power of reading.
About the Program
The Read 2 Lead Program inspires curiosity, strengthens comprehension, and equips youth to lead—in classrooms, communities, and beyond.
Monthly Reading Challenges
Track Reading. Earn Rewards. Build Community.
Each month, readers take on themed challenges through Beanstack—logging books, earning badges, and celebrating milestones.
Readers & Families Enjoy:
Gift cards, books, certificates, and raffles
Recognition for top readers and classrooms
Confidence, family engagement, and leadership skill-building
Build a Personal Home Library
Because Every Child Deserves to Own Books.
Owning books empowers children to imagine, explore, and grow as thinkers and leaders.
How We Support Home Libraries:
Free Book Giveaways for reading challenge participants
“Read & Keep” Bundles at schools and community events
Milestone Rewards through Beanstack achievements
Community Donations of books and library kits
How to Help:
Donate books • Sponsor a library kit • Partner on book drives or literacy events
Book Drives
Books Fuel Homes, Hearts, and Minds.
Anyone—from a school club to a community group—can host or join a book drive to support youth literacy.
Your Drive Supports:
Personal home libraries for children
Community reading rooms and pop-up literacy events
Prize libraries for monthly reading challenges
Partners Include:
Local businesses • Faith-based organizations • Student groups • Nonprofits
Family Read Nights & Community Book Events
Fostering Family Engagement & Connection.
Join us for storytime with local authors, family-friendly activities, and reading challenges at schools, libraries, and community centers.
Participants Enjoy:
- Storytime with local authors and leaders
- Family-friendly activities: games, creative projects, and reading challenges.
- Hosted in accessible locations: schools, libraries, community centers
Participant Benefits:
Shared reading experiences and quality family time
Exposure to mentors and role models
Book giveaways and recognition
Support the Read 2 Lead Program
Want to help us inspire lifelong readers and confident leaders? You can make an impact today through a donation or sponsorship.
Under The GrowLit Project, Inc. Because Reading Starts at Home.
Reading Starts With Us is a family-focused early literacy initiative that partners with parents and caregivers of children ages 0–5 to build strong language foundations before kindergarten. Through interactive workshops, take-home resources, and ongoing support, families gain the knowledge, tools, and confidence to make everyday moments count for literacy.
Interactive Parent Workshops
Learn. Play. Grow Together.
Two in-person sessions help families turn daily routines into learning opportunities.
Workshops Cover:
Literacy milestones from birth to age five
Language-rich interactions: talking, singing, reading, and playing
Creating print-rich environments at home
Everyday strategies to boost brain development and school readiness
Grow Lit Literacy Kits
Tools to Spark Learning at Home.
Each family receives a literacy kit designed to make reading fun, hands-on, and accessible.
Each Kit Includes:
Age-appropriate books (board books, picture books, bilingual options)
Parent guides with simple, engaging activities and reading tips
Monthly Family Follow-Ups
Encouragement Beyond the Workshop.
After the workshops, families receive monthly check-ins for continued growth and support.
Follow-Ups Offer:
Ongoing coaching and encouragement
Simple strategies to keep learning consistent
Opportunities to celebrate progress and engagement
Data Support Section
Place this below the two program sections (or under the main Literacy Corner page content):
Data Support
Early Brain Development
90% of brain development happens before age 5.
Source: Center on the Developing Child at Harvard UniversityChildren’s language and vocabulary development between birth and age 3 is the strongest predictor of school readiness and later academic success.
Source: Hart & Risley, 1995; National Early Literacy Panel, 2008
Parent Engagement
Children whose parents read to them at least 3 times per week are twice as likely to recognize all letters, count to 20, and write their names by kindergarten.
Source: National Education AssociationParent involvement in early literacy is more predictive of academic success than family income, education level, or neighborhood.
Source: National Literacy Trust, 2007
Literacy Disparities in Under-Resourced Communities
By age 5, children from low-income families hear 30 million fewer words than peers in higher-income homes.
Source: Hart & Risley, “The 30 Million Word Gap,” 1995
Empowering Families to Raise Lifelong Readers, from Birth to Age Five
Program Overview
Reading Starts With Us is a family-focused early literacy initiative that partners with parents and caregivers of children ages 0–5 to build strong language foundations before kindergarten. Through hands-on workshops, take-home resources, and monthly follow-up support, this program equips families with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to make everyday moments count for literacy.
Interactive Parent Workshops
- Two in-person workshops will cover:
- Literacy milestones from birth to age 5
- Language-rich interactions (talking, singing, reading, playing)
- Creating print-rich environments at home
- Everyday strategies to boost brain development and school readiness
Grow Lit Literacy Kits
- Age-appropriate books (board books, picture books, bilingual options)
- Hands-on materials (puppets, letter blocks, sensory play items)
- Parent guides with easy activities and reading tips
Monthly Family Follow-Ups
- Check-ins to support families in implementing strategies
- Encouragement, coaching, and tracking of engagement
Data Support
Early Brain Development
- 90% of brain development happens before age 5.
- Source: Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
- Children’s language and vocabulary development between birth and age 3 is the strongest predictor of school readiness and later academic success.
- Source: Hart & Risley, 1995; National Early Literacy Panel, 2008
Parent Engagement
Children whose parents read to them at least 3 times per week are twice as likely to recognize all letters, count to 20, and write their names by kindergarten.
Source: National Education Association
Parent involvement in early literacy is more predictive of academic success than family income, education level, or neighborhood.
Source: National Literacy Trust, 2007
Literacy Disparities in Under-Resourced Communities
By age 5, children from low-income families hear 30 million fewer words than peers in higher-income homes.
Source: Hart & Risley, “The 30 Million Word Gap,” 1995
Support the Reading Starts With Us Program
Help families build strong language foundations from the start. Choose how you’d like to support:
Book Drive Partners Include:
Local businesses • Schools • Faith-based groups • Civic clubs • Nonprofits