Giving Tuesday 2025
Inspiring Tomorrow's Leaders, One Page At A Time
At Read Better Be Better,
The Problem
Our Solution
our vision is a world in which empowered communities demand access to foundational skills.
We believe that every student in Arizona, regardless of where they live or where they go to school, should have access to develop fundamental skills, including literacy and leadership.
Because of many factors, including inequity and underresourcing, this is not the reality in Arizona.
Only 36% of Arizona’s third graders are reading at grade level. For economically disadvantaged students, that drops to 24%.
Third grade reading doesn’t just affect test scores. It’s a predictor of high school graduation.
Students who are unable to read at grade level in 3rd grade are 4 times less likely to graduate high school. That means almost two-thirds of Arizona’s students do not have the support and tools they need for academic and future success.
Read Better Be Better provides Tier II evidence-based, peer-led literacy programs that are proven to positively impact K-3rd grade reading skills and test scores.
In addition, through our programs, 4th-8th grade students gain leadership skills and confidence from mentoring young readers, while high school students gain hands-on career experience to prepare for education professions and civic leadership.
Our programs are offered after school in locations across the state, with thousands of students served in the last decade. Every program is offered at NO cost to students and their families.
We want to reach as many students as we can, and see those percentages of proficient readers soar.
We need YOUR help!
Every page, every dollar, every minute, every action counts. Help us rewrite the story of Arizona literacy, one page at a time.
Click on the tiles below to see how you can get involved!
DONATE
If you want to join our mission but are tight on time, the easiest and fastest way to support Read Better Be Better this Giving Tuesday is to donate.
Your gift helps us keep our programs FREE for students and their families, and helps us expand to reach as many students in Arizona as possible!
This year, your gift will make an even BIGGER impact. Thanks to a very generous gift from Leesa & David Lane and The Lane Foundation, Giving Tuesday donations to Read Better Be Better will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $25,000!
That means, when you donate $1, Read Better Be Better receives $2. When you donate $50, Read Better Be Better receives $100. Imagine how quickly that adds up!
Will you help us reach $25,000 in donations so we can get our full $25,000 match?
HOST A LITERACY LOUNGE
This Giving Tuesday, we are launching a new way to get involved with Read Better Be Better: Literacy Lounges!
A Literacy Lounge is an event that brings community together and supports a great cause:
Arizona youth literacy!
A Literacy Lounge could be a ladies’ brunch, a book club meeting, a craft or game night, a birthday or holiday party, a backyard barbeque, or whatever you can dream up.
Hosting is simple.
- Create a Literacy Lounge fundraiser using the link below.
- Set a date and invite your friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, or even new potential friends!
- Decide how you want to collect donations. Perhaps instead of exchanging holiday gifts this year, everyone will make a donation. Or you could ask everyone to “pay to play” at game night with a $10 entry fee.
- Finally, prepare for and host an incredible event! We have signage templates and information available to help you make your Literacy Lounge a success. We can even come speak at your event—if you want additional support telling the story of Read Better Be Better, reach out to us!
A Literacy Lounge does not have to be a one-time event. Your fundraiser will stay live as long as you want. You could host multiple events, even monthly or yearly, all benefitting Read Better Be Better!
FUNDRAISE ONLINE
An online fundraiser is set up just like a Literacy Lounge, but without hosting an event. Online fundraising is a great way to engage your loved ones, even those who are busy or who live far away, in supporting a cause you care about!
It also allows you to make a bigger difference with a collective effort! Say you are able to donate $10. When you share your fundraiser with 9 friends, suddenly you’ve raised $100 in donations!
All you have to do to get started is create your fundraiser and share the link through text messages, emails, and/or social posts.
VOLUNTEER AS A COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR
Are you passionate about Read Better Be Better’s mission? Do you want to promote youth literacy and leadership, leading to strengthened and empowered communities? Do you enjoy talking to others and meeting new people?
We have the perfect opportunity for you!
Introducing another NEW way to get involved with Read Better Be Better: Community Ambassadors!
Read Better Be Better strives to be present in our community to share our mission and our programs. Community Ambassadors will be trained to represent Read Better Be Better at outreach booths and tables during local events, community festivals, and in front of partner locations such as storefronts and community based programming sites.
VOLUNTEER AT OUR GIVING TUESDAY PHONE BANKING PARTY
That’s right, it’s party time! We’re gathering together to make calls requesting donations and thanking donors on Giving Tuesday, the biggest giving day of the year.
Join us on December 2 for snacks, music, and connection! All in support of providing literacy and leadership programs for Arizona’s youth.
Even our mascot, Dr. Dave, will be there. Will we see you there, too?
TREAT YOURSELF TO DINNER OUT
Save the date! On December 1,
order online from ANY Panda Express location in the US and a portion of sales will go to Read Better Be Better!
Apply code 9009725 in the Fundraiser Code box during online checkout at www.pandaexpress.com or via the Panda Express app.
