Reading Partners Raises Over $1M at Star-Studded 25th Anniversary Gala Celebrating Literacy Impact

New York, NY — April 25, 2025 — Reading Partners marked a major milestone with its 25th Anniversary Gala, “One for the Books,” celebrating two and a half decades of transforming children’s lives through literacy. Held at Gotham Hall in New York City on April 23, the star-studded event brought together nearly 400 supporters and raised more than $1 million to advance access to early literacy nationwide.

Since its founding in 1999, Reading Partners has delivered nearly 3 million one-on-one tutoring sessions to more than 80,000 students, fostering confidence, academic growth, and lifelong reading habits among children in under-resourced communities.

A Night to Remember: Honoring a Legacy of Literacy

Hosted by comedian, actress, and author Michelle Buteau, the gala was filled with humor, inspiration, and heartfelt stories. Buteau, reflecting on her own literacy journey, highlighted how reading and storytelling shaped her identity and career. She encouraged students to dream big, notably inviting college junior and Reading Partners alumna Charniece Bacon to send her a screenplay.

Reading Partners CEO Adeola Whitney delivered a powerful keynote, celebrating the organization’s grassroots beginnings and the incredible network of volunteers, AmeriCorps members, and partners that power its mission. Whitney addressed the national literacy crisis—pointing out that over 9 million elementary students from low-income backgrounds are not reading at grade level—and called on the community to advance proven, innovative solutions.

“Reading is a civil right… and every last child deserves access to the literacy skills they need to fulfill the promise of their own future,” Whitney said.

Star Power Meets Literacy Advocacy

The night featured celebrity honorees and literacy champions whose voices and talents helped amplify Reading Partners’ mission:

• Kwame Alexander, award-winning poet and author, received the Pen and Purpose Award, dedicating it to his mentor Nikki Giovanni.
• Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, hip-hop legend and children’s book author, was honored with the Storyteller for Change Award. His impassioned speech and multi-song live performance energized the crowd and reinforced his belief that “reading is a super superpower.”
• Alexis and Steve Strongin, long-time Reading Partners supporters, received the Literacy Lifetime Champions Award for their philanthropic and hands-on tutoring contributions, including Alexis’ 600+ hours of volunteer service.

Each honoree shared deeply personal reflections on the transformative role of literacy in their lives and communities.

Student Voices Lead the Way

The heart of the evening belonged to Reading Partners alumni like Charniece Bacon, who shared how tutoring helped her regain confidence and a love for reading after falling behind in early elementary school. Now studying English and film, she credits Reading Partners with “shaping the person I am today.”

Video profiles and speeches showcased other inspiring alumni stories, including a young student named Masen, highlighting the program’s profound, long-term impact.

Looking Ahead: Innovation and Community

Primo Lasana, Executive Director of Reading Partners New York City, spoke about the importance of innovation and partnership in addressing the city’s literacy challenges. From collaborating with schools and community organizations to piloting AI-generated phonics books and training parents as literacy leaders, Reading Partners is embracing the future with purpose and optimism.

“With a community like this and team members like this, Reading Partners is an engine,” Lasana said. “The future is bright for our city’s youngest readers.”

As Reading Partners looks to its next chapter, it remains committed to ensuring that all children—regardless of ZIP code—have the literacy tools they need to thrive.

About Reading Partners
For more than 25 years, Reading Partners has helped empower students to succeed in school and beyond by engaging community volunteers to provide proven, one-on-one literacy tutoring. Since its founding, the national nonprofit organization has mobilized over 85,000 community volunteers to provide nearly 3 million individualized literacy tutoring sessions to more than 80,000 elementary school students in over 550 under-resourced schools across ten states and the District of Columbia. Visit readingpartners.org to learn more about our program impact and our Reading Partners Connects online program innovation, or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and Instagram. Reading Partners is a proud AmeriCorps service partner and has been endorsed by The New York Times and featured on The TODAY Show and GMA.