The Reading Formula: Books + Belief = Possibility

Hello, friends and supporters!

As a proud Readers 2 Leaders Board member, I’m excited to launch a personal fundraiser to support our mission of equipping students for success through the power of reading. At Readers 2 Leaders, we’re committed to ensuring that all students have equitable opportunities to thrive as both readers and leaders. With your help, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of the children we serve.

Why I’m Fundraising

Reading has always been part of my own formula for possibility.

I grew up with access to books, a library, and family members and other adults who encouraged me to read. Those simple ingredients gave me much more than strong reading skills. Books helped me build confidence, find my voice, communicate more comfortably, and discover worlds far beyond my own.

Reading fed my imagination. It introduced me to characters I loved, places I wanted to visit, ideas I wanted to explore, and questions that made me curious enough to keep learning.

That is why this year’s Reading Is a Science theme resonates so strongly with me.

I think about stories like The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, where access to books, curiosity, and the opportunity to learn helped a young boy turn an idea into something extraordinary. That story reminds me that we can never predict where a child’s ability to read may lead.

For a child, the formula can be beautifully simple:

Books + Support + Curiosity = Big Possibilities

As a Readers 2 Leaders board member, I’m proud to support an organization that gives children the evidence-based reading instruction, encouragement, and opportunities they need to become stronger readers.

Because reading is about more than words on a page.

Reading + Confidence = Finding Your Voice
Reading + Imagination = Seeing Beyond What You Know
Reading + Curiosity = Asking “What If?”
Reading + Opportunity = Possibility

I hope you’ll join me in being part of that formula for a child.

Facts & Figures

During fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025), R2L achieved the following results:

- Served 2,000 children during the school year and summer;

- Served 393 adults through literacy coaching and training programs and reached an additional 6,000 students through literacy trainings for educators and caregivers.

- Had 94 percent of students make measurable growth in key early literacy skills;

- Had 89 percent of children grow or maintain their reading skills during the 2025 summer camp.

A Fun Twist!

Will You Be Part of My Reading Formula?

I’m setting a goal of $1,250, and I’d love your help getting there.

You don’t have to make a huge gift to make a difference. Give what feels right—$10, $25, $50, $100 or more. Every donation becomes another part of the formula that helps a child grow as a reader.

Books + Support + Curiosity + YOU = Big Possibilities

And because fundraising should have a little fun built into the experiment…

If we reach $1,250.00, I’ll put my own dignity in the name of literacy and share a special “Reading Is a Science” challenge, complete with books, science gear, a windmill-inspired twist, and whatever happens when an HR professional is given too much creative freedom.

Let’s see what we can make happen.

Will you be part of the formula?

$625.00— Halfway there: I post my most dramatic 30-second Shakespearean reading.

$900.00 — Almost there: I appear in full “Reading Is a Science” mode—lab coat, glasses, books, and possibly a homemade windmill. Dignity is negotiable.

$1,250.00 — Goal reached: I create a short “Reading Experiment” video showing my formula: Books + Support + Curiosity = Big Possibilities.

How You Can Help

Here’s how you can join me in making a difference:

• Donate: Your contribution, big or small, helps us get closer to our goal and supports a great cause.
• Share: Spread the word! Share this fundraiser with your friends, family, and networks to help us reach more people who believe in the power of reading.

Thank you so much for your support and generosity. Together, we can help students achieve their full potential through the magic of reading!