Read Aloud West Virginia

Read Aloud West Virginia Our mission is to motivate kids to WANT to read. We strive to keep books in the hands and on the minds of West Virginia's children.

Literacy is the foundation of education. Therefore, poor literacy contributes to a host of social problems. Knowledge in all subject areas requires reading comprehension, and today's economy demands higher levels of literacy than ever before. Poor readers are more likely to drop out of high school and to engage in risky behavior such as drug and alcohol abuse. They are even more likely to be incar

cerated. It is estimated that 60-80 percent of prison inmates have below basic reading levels. But there is good news: we can work to improve the literacy of our students by creating a culture that places value on reading. Most children in West Virginia immediately recognize a West Virginia University or Marshall University logo. They have heard their parents and other role models discuss the weekend's game with interest and emotion. It is important to people who are important to them. Sports play an important role in our society, but imagine if we conveyed that kind of enthusiasm to our kids while discussing our latest adventures in reading. It would send the message that reading is important, fun, worthwhile, valuable. Research repeatedly has shown that children who embrace reading for pleasure are better-equipped for the challenges life will inevitably present. They have a better understanding of the emotions of others, or empathy. They are more able to manage their own health and finances. If we want to raise productive and contributing members of society, literacy must be a priority. What are YOU reading, West Virginia?

This was an incredible honor! We send our support to the upcoming 2026 Change Maker Award recipients.
05/07/2026

This was an incredible honor! We send our support to the upcoming 2026 Change Maker Award recipients.

Every year, we proudly present the Change Maker Award to local organizations that truly exemplify innovation, resilience, and a collaborative spirit in our community.

As we gear up to announce our newest honorees on Tuesday, May 12th, we want to take a moment to look back and applaud our incredible 2025 Change Makers. These five outstanding nonprofits have made a lasting, transformational difference across the arts, education, health, basic needs, and community development:
- Heart + Hand Outreach Ministries, Inc.
- Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA Area, Inc.
- Charleston Ballet, Inc.
- Read Aloud West Virginia, Inc.
- Mountaineer Food Bank, Inc.

Thank you to last year's recipients for the vital work you do every single day to uplift West Virginia!

Who will join this prestigious list of local heroes next? Mark your calendars for May 12th for our Annual Report To The Community and stay tuned as we reveal our next wave of Change Makers! 🗓️💙

04/04/2026
Today is the day!! Read-A-Palooza is this evening from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the University of Charleston's beautiful Erma B...
04/02/2026

Today is the day!! Read-A-Palooza is this evening from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the University of Charleston's beautiful Erma Byrd Gallery. You can still join us by purchasing tickets at the door for $50.

Join us for a fun evening of free food, drinks, music, and good company. Many of our longtime volunteers and supporters will be in attendance, including our Founder Mary Kay Bond.

Proceeds from this event help make special moments like these possible!

Not able to make Read-A-Palooza Thursday, but still want to support childhood literacy in West Virginia? Please consider...
04/01/2026

Not able to make Read-A-Palooza Thursday, but still want to support childhood literacy in West Virginia? Please consider a donation to Read Aloud West Virginia in lieu of attending.

Proceeds from the event support our programs. This includes recruiting and training our volunteers, who read to more than 800 classrooms across West Virginia each week. This also supports free book distributions to the children in these schools and in their communities. Over the past two school years, Read Aloud WV has given nearly 60,000 free books to West Virginia children. Even a $10 donation goes a long way in putting books in the hands on the mind's of our state's children.

Donate here: https://checkout.square.site/merchant/0VBE4K1RS7H9J/checkout/QO6WXT4TXGNQBY4VNJFRD33K

Thanks to MetroNews for sharing this story celebrating our 40th anniversary and our upcoming Read-A-Palooza fundraiser!F...
03/31/2026

Thanks to MetroNews for sharing this story celebrating our 40th anniversary and our upcoming Read-A-Palooza fundraiser!

From the article: "[Executive Director Dawn Miller] said that the mere act of exposing students to books outside the typical educational setting can spark an interest. Once a child decides to pick up something to read on their own, the benefits just come from there.

“When we do that with kids, we model good, fluent reading, and then they get interested in the books that we share with them, and then we help put books in their hands, and the next thing you know, when they have some time on their own, they’re reading on their own, which builds their vocabulary and their reading comprehension, and then they’re off and running, able to seize all the opportunities in life,” she said.

Tickets for Thursday's event are still available: https://square.link/u/WR3lQgmX

Read the full article here: https://wvmetronews.com/2026/03/29/read-aloud-wv-to-commemorate-40-years-of-developing-readers/

For our friends in the Eastern Panhandle, Four Seasons Books is hosting an Open House fundraiser in Shepherdstown on Thu...
03/29/2026

For our friends in the Eastern Panhandle, Four Seasons Books is hosting an Open House fundraiser in Shepherdstown on Thursday alongside our Read-A-Palooza event in Charleston.

What to expect:

- Discover ways to support literacy efforts in our region.
- 10% of all sales during the event will go toward purchasing books for local teachers’ wish lists.
- Enjoy complimentary wine and charcuterie while you browse and connect with fellow readers.

Local Teachers: Submit your classroom wish list for a chance to receive books funded through the evening’s donations.

Send your wish list to [email protected] by April 2.

Whether you’re picking up your next great read or simply stopping by to support the cause, your participation helps bring more books and more possibilities into the hands of young readers.

Let’s work together to make reading accessible and exciting for every child in our community.

Date: Thursday, April 2
Time: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: Four Seasons Books, 114 W. German St., Shepherdstown, WV 25443

Catch the return of local jazz artist and pianist Jordan Dyer at Read-A-Palooza next week! We are excited and honored fo...
03/27/2026

Catch the return of local jazz artist and pianist Jordan Dyer at Read-A-Palooza next week! We are excited and honored for Jordan to join us again this year to provide tunes for our annual after-work spring fundraiser.

Read-A-Palooza is Thursday, April 2, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., in the University of Charleston's Erma Byrd Gallery.

Read-A-Palooza is one week away!Mary Kay Bond, founder and longtime executive director of Read Aloud West Virginia, will...
03/26/2026

Read-A-Palooza is one week away!

Mary Kay Bond, founder and longtime executive director of Read Aloud West Virginia, will be in attendance. We are celebrating Read Aloud WV's 40th anniversary. We encourage former readers, volunteers, and supporters to join us for a wonderful trip down memory lane.

Read-A-Palooza is Thursday, April 2, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., in the University of Charleston's Erma Byrd Gallery.

Tickets are still available at this link: https://square.link/u/WR3lQgmX

Proceeds help support Read Aloud WV's programs.

The event will also feature:

-Wine, beer, and hors d'oevres.
-The popular Wine Pull is back. Buy a ticket for $20, and pull a mystery bottle of wine worth $20 or more.
-Music by pianist Jordan Dyer, local jazz artist.

We have a limited number of 40th Anniversary Commemorative Mugs made for Read Aloud WV by artist Joe Butta, selling for $50. Special Read Aloud WV T-shirts celebrating this milestone will also be for sale.

For any questions regarding the event, call 304-345-5212 or email [email protected]

03/18/2026
03/15/2026

Stories open doors to new worlds, ideas, and opportunities. Join us fReadapalooza 2026 Open House , an evening celebrating the power of books and the importance of literacy in our communities.

This open house supports Read Aloud West Virginia, whose mission is to ensure every child in West Virginia has access to books and the lifelong joy of reading. Our event is a companion to the statewide Readapalooza celebration happening in Charleston.

Why does this matter?

• 1 in 5 children in West Virginia struggles with basic literacy skills.
• Children who are read to regularly are more likely to thrive in school and beyond.
• Your support helps place books directly into classrooms by funding local teachers’ wish lists.

What to expect:

- Discover ways to support literacy efforts in our region
- 10% of all sales during the event will go toward purchasing books for local teachers’ wish lists
- Enjoy complimentary wine and charcuterie while you browse and connect with fellow readers

Local Teachers:
Submit your classroom wish list for a chance to receive books funded through the evening’s donations.

Send your wish list to [email protected]
by April 2.

Whether you’re picking up your next great read or simply stopping by to support the cause, your participation helps bring more books and more possibilities into the hands of young readers.

Let’s work together to make reading accessible and exciting for every child in our community.

Date: Thursday, April 2
Time: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: Four Seasons Books, 114 W. German St., Shepherdstown, WV 25443

Address

1700 Maccorkle Avenue SE
Charleston, WV
25314

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(304) 345-5212

Website

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