Everybody Wins DC

At EWDC, we rely on the generosity of our partners so we can provide our programs for free to students across the DMV. Last Thursday, General Dynamics hosted a book processing event in their offices to support these programs. Thanks to them, we processed 250+ books that are now ready for distribution to children across the DMV, including books purchased from their book drive. Thank you to General Dynamics and all our supporters that keep our programs running for our students, schools, and families. To learn about ways you and your workplace can support EWDC, email [email protected].

We're thrilled to announce that Everybody Wins DC has been selected as a 2024 Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program Successful Practice Honoree! The Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program recognizes organizations in the United States and abroad that provide exemplary, innovative, sustainable, and replicable strategies to promote literacy and reading. The Literacy Awards Program was established by the Library of Congress in 2013 and is generously supported by philanthropist David M. Rubenstein since 2013, and by the Kislak Family Foundation since 2023. We're honored to be recognized for the support we provide for students across the DMV, and a huge thank you to the Library of Congress and our partners who make this work possible!

EWDC is hiring! Help us make a difference through the power of reading. EWDC is looking for a part-time Program Coordinator to support school-based activities during the 2024-25 school year. The position will focus primarily on Power Readers, EWDC's reading-based mentoring program that matches volunteers with elementary school students to read together for an hour a week. In addition to facilitating weekly reading sessions, the position will assist with student enrollment, volunteer training, and data collection. Program Coordinators generally work 2-4 days per week, for 3-4 hours per shift (usually between the hours of 10am - 2pm). This position will be assigned to one of EWDC's partner school in Washington, DC. Final schedule will be determined based on program needs and candidate availability. Click below for full details and application information. https://lnkd.in/ecTdisMi

With students back in school across the DMV, Power Readers has less than a month left to recruit the mentors that’ll change these students’ lives! Van Ness, Innovation, and Chisholm Elementary Schools all have student waitlists that dwarf our number of mentor applicants — for just one hour a week, you can mentor a student at one of these schools and inspire their lifelong love of reading and learning! Special shoutout & thank you to our partner organizations who have gone above and beyond by having 5 or more mentor applicants: Bipartisan Policy Center, Booz Allen Hamilton, CTIA, EAB, PwC, & U.S. Department of Transportation. Click the link below to sign up as a mentor or to get your workplace involved with EWDC’s programs! https://lnkd.in/eh4v9e-b

Power Readers helps kids develop literacy skills, build self-confidence, and find joy in books. But did you know it also has a positive impact on our mentors? Next week, students across the DC area will return to classrooms for the 2024-25 school year. A few weeks after that, EWDC will begin matching them with Power Readers mentors. You can make a difference by reading with one of these amazing students! Kids are waiting for the mentors that’ll change their lives — sign up at the link below! https://lnkd.in/eh4v9e-b

In one month, EWDC students across the DC area will be back in classrooms for the 2024-25 school year. This means we have one month to refill our bookcases! Last year, EWDC gave away 13,107 free books to kids, of which 79% elevated underrepresented voices, characters, and communities. Can you help us do it all again next year? Join our Fill a Shelf Challenge and give local kids the gift of reading. Here are two ways to participate: HOST A BOOK DRIVE: Looking for a summer service activity at your office? Host an EWDC book drive to fill one shelf with 50 books! EWDC handles all logistics, including creating an online wish list for you to share with colleagues. MAKE A DONATION: Every $5 gift means another book on our shelves. Sponsor one book, one shelf, or even a whole bookcase! Click below to start your book drive, make a donation, or both! https://lnkd.in/gVkiRJny

EWDC is hiring! Key to EWDC's success is the amazing team of part-time EWDC Program Coordinators working directly in our partner schools. For school year 2024-25, we're expanding our Program Coordinator team and are looking for more people to help deliver our Power Readers mentoring program as well as support other EWDC activities. Want to work for just a few hours a week during the school day? Interested in learning more about non-profit work or youth programming? Thinking about a career change and want to be in a school setting? All are perfect reasons to join EWDC as a part-time Program Coordinator. Join EWDC and help local kids thrive though reading. Full position details in the link below! https://lnkd.in/ecTdisMi

Throughout June, EWDC worked with organizations like Google, PwC, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP, White & Case LLP and WTW to host book drives in preparation for the 2024-25 school year. Even more amazing is that all the stories donated elevated characters, communities, and perspectives too often left off the page of children's literature. This week, we had some special help getting these diverse books onto our shelves. Thank you to One Maryland Collective and the incredible student-athletes from the University of Maryland Women's Basketball team for giving your time to EWDC and our students. EWDC's success is rooted in the fact that partners like these come together to support local communities. Thanks to all for your ongoing dedication to our students and families. Here is to an amazing 2024-25 school year! Want to make a difference in your community? Looking to give back to local students? Reach out and we can get you started today!

Since 1995, EWDC has served kids across the DC area through the power of reading. And for more than half of this almost 30-year journey, White & Case LLP and been by our side. From their first Power Readers mentor in 2006 to the book drive and processing event held just this week that will put 200+ diverse books into EWDC's Little Free Library locations, we are so grateful for their commitment to our students and communities. Thank you White & Case LLP for helping kids build the literacy and social-emotional skills they need to succeed. Here is to another amazing year of reading!

Thank you WSGives for being part of this year's Lawyers for Literacy! Together, we're connecting kids to the reading programs they need and deserve. With just a few rounds of trivia, EWDC raised the funds needed to connect more DC area students to mentors, host more read-aloud events, and put hundreds of free books into kids' hands. Plus, it was a great night for team building, networking, and summer associate adventures. Amazing! Missed this year's event but want to be first on the list for next year's Lawyers for Literacy? Send us a message or leave a comment below and we'll follow up with details.