About Read Aloud America
Our Mission
Through the fun of reading and being read-to, Read Aloud America promotes literacy, bonds families, and builds communities of lifetime readers.
Our Values
Since 1995, Read Aloud America has been committed to promoting a the joy of reading, strengthening families, and helping communities thrive. We envision a nation filled with families of lifetime readers. Our mission is rooted in six core values.
Family
Believing that a love of reading is rooted in a love of family, RAA’s programs strengthen family bonds through reading aloud.
School
RAA is committed to partnering with schools. We assist their efforts to build and maintain strong bridges between the home and school.
Community
RAA enhances community engagement through “micro” events. This increases access to read-aloud resources for all.
Innovation
Avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach, we continually develop new, creative ways to engage families in the joy of reading aloud.
Inspiration
RAA is committed to engaging parents and children in enjoyable, pressure-free programs that inspire a love of reading.
Education
Our Story
Jed organized a "power lunch" program at Kahamanu Elementary School on Oahu. At-risk students were paired with volunteer readers in school. This small but successful program inspired future changes.
Alongside Jim Harstad, English Dept. Chair at the Univ. of Hawaii Laboratory School, and Marion Coste, children's book author and former Univ. of Hawaii instructor, Jed created an innovative approach to inspiring the joy of reading.
Held at Barber's Point Elementary School, the Read Aloud Program (RAP), was officially launched. Rooted in the philosophy of building readers through the joy of reading, each RAP session drew an average of 200 parents and children.
In only the first two full years, RAP served over 15,000 adults and children. More and more schools requested to host RAP, driving state leaders to consider funding the program. The energy was palpable!
Recognizing RAP's innovation and impact, the State of Hawaii Department of Human Services began a multi-year, multi-million dollar grant to increase RAP's reach across the state.
Read Aloud America became fully operational, with offices across the state. Multiple local outreach programs also began: read alouds at libraries and Whole Foods, production of annual reading list, parent presentations, and more.
The pandemic shut down the widely popular RAP program and placed limitations on its immediate future. RAA's staff connected with communities through video read-alouds, downloadable resources, and "micro" RAP presentations.
Read Aloud America invests in strategies to expand its mission nationwide. By enhancing our digital presence, we're enabling families nationwide to access high-quality resources and guidance. Plans to release a RAP Toolkit are in motion.
What We Do
Leadership
Jed Gaines
Founder
Larry Laird
Operations Director
Joanne Laird
Program Director
Natalie Hayek
Director of Development
Samanta Shebelut
Director of Digital Strategies