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United Way of Broward County Hoping to Train 300 Volunteers for ‘ReadingPals’ Literacy Program

ReadingPals volunteer Paul Daly reads to a student at Sunland Park Academy {photo by Karen Lewis}

By: Jen Russon

United Way of Broward County is still seeking 300 volunteers to become ReadingPals mentors after one of four training sessions got underway this summer.

ReadingPals Manager Kristen Lewis said the training on July 14 was a great success, with forty adults signing on virtually.

“Potential volunteers learned about the history of the ReadingPals program, the requirements to sign up, along with helpful tips to use when working one-on-one with students,” said Lewis.

She added the ReadingPals program is looking to recruit and train hundreds of volunteers, to work with 350 students in Pre-K up through second grade in Broward County.

Now a decade-old touchstone in early literacy and comprehension skills, ReadingPals’ goal is to make sure students are reading at grade level and foster a lifetime love of literacy.

Since its inception, more than 2,320 schools have been served by volunteers at United Way’s ReadingPals program, culminating in the distribution of 88,500 books to elementary schools in Broward County.