Greater Philadelphia Cares - Corporate Volunteers

Reading STARS

Be a Hero, Turn a Struggling Student into a Reading STAR

The ability to read is the most important determinant of future success and achievement.

Greater Philadelphia Cares invites you to participate in Reading STARS, a literacy program where volunteers work one-on-one with students to boost the reading abilities of children and holds great promise as a solution to the problem of low literacy rates in Philadelphia's public school system. Reading STARS is a rewarding program where volunteers can really see the benefits that come from donating their time. Because reading opens the door to all learning and the window in which children must gain these skills is relatively small, Reading STARS is an absolutely crucial program.

Reading STARS relies exclusively on volunteers LIKE YOU to get students to grade-level and beyond, empowering these children to explore and achieve their full potential. Anyone can volunteer with Reading STARS. The program is entirely scripted, so anyone can tutor a child –- no teaching experience required. There's no more important gift that you can give a child than the gift of literacy. Click here to learn more about the different ways you can volunteer for a Reading STARS project.

Since initiating Reading STARS, exclusively utilizing the Smart Way Reading and Spelling^TM methodology, the program has both created a noticeable impact and fueled a growing demand from the community. With Reading STARS, volunteers help equip these students with invaluable reading skills and the confidence to face the academic challenges presented to them in all of their classes. This year, Greater Philadelphia Cares' overall goal for Reading STARS is to make 500 non-reading children into confident, competent readers who can go on to teach more of their peers to read in the years to come.

Greater Philadelphia Cares is committed to effectively implementing and expanding Reading STARS so that every child in our region is a confident reader.

Did you know?

45% of 3rd graders in the Philadelphia Public School System are reading below grade level; that's 8,000 children.
If students can’t read well by the end of 3rd grade, chances for later school success are greatly diminished –- including a greater likelihood of delinquent behavior and dropping out of school.
An average of only 60% of those who make it to 9th grade in low-income areas throughout our region graduate.
Children from middle income homes enter school having had 1,000-1,700 hours of one-to-one experiences with books; children from low-income families enter school having had only 25 hours.
85% of the children who appear in juvenile court lack reading skills.

Reading STAR Works! First Graders now reading at second grade level

Learn More About Reading Star Results >>
Four Ways to Get Involved With Reading Stars >>

Reading STARS is made possible with the generous support of:

Bank of America

Cigna

Jones Apparel

State Farm