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With writing contributed by Albertus Magnus student and fall 2019 New Haven Reads intern Jesse McIntosh.

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more.” – Oprah Winfrey

Gratitude is an everyday feeling at New Haven Reads, where our programs exist to support the community and succeed because the community supports us, too. 

In the spirit of the season, we’ve made a list of the reasons we’re thankful. Let us know what you’re thankful for in the comments!

NHR families

Everyone who enrolls a student at NHR has made a commitment to the growth and potential of their children as young readers. Beyond wanting the best for their students, our families commit to weekly sessions, reports, regulations—and it’s worth it, because we get results, working together.

We are thankful to NHR families for trusting us to help their children learn to read. Parents and guardians make sure their children walk through our doors every day, let us know when they can’t, and do everything in their power to support their children at home. They also keep our team apprised of what’s happening at school so we can provide the best resources and guidance. Our families are true teammates, with the shared vision of helping each child grow to their full potential.

NHR tutors and volunteers

Our volunteer tutors are community members who believe in the joy and power of reading, and have chosen to invest their time each week helping a child become a stronger reader. Our tutors also empower students through positive example and guidance. 

When they tutor, our volunteers use a research-based approach to building literacy skills which they’ve learned in mandatory training. They go above and beyond to support our students, from workbook pages and reading together, to competitive games of Uno and Connect 4 during choice time. We couldn’t do our work without them, and they enrich our students lives, hour after hour.

NHR staff

Maybe we’re biased, but our team is comprised of some of the hardest-working, kindest-hearted, and most committed-to-our-kids folks we know. Their dedication to bright, young readers is what makes our work soar. 

Our staff are experts: in literacy-building, nurturing meaningful relationships with families and students, and supporting children on their unique paths to reading. When tutors are unavailable, our staff steps in. They make sure the string cheese is stocked. They slice apples as needed, too. They track schedules, report cards, progress in school, progress at NHR, and everything in between—for dozens and dozens of kids. And they keep programs fun for all, every day.

NHR Supporters

There is no shortage of ways to support New Haven Reads, and we’re grateful there is no shortage of generous individuals who choose to donate books, money, time, and energy to keep our programs as strong as ever!

Our donors understand that NHR exists to meet a pressing community need and invest in the future when they invest in our work. Whether you’ve brought some gently-used books to our Bristol Street Book Bank, attended an event, shared a social media post, or contributed to our annual appeal, you’ve truly made a difference in the life of a child. You’ve also written yourself into the NHR story. Read more here about the impact you’ve helped us achieve.

NHR community partners

The majority of our students come to us from Greater New Haven and Hamden, where community partnership makes our work possible. We are so grateful to our committed board of directors for their guidance and support; our year-long community business partners like Claire’s Corner Copia, and The Study at Yale; peer nonprofits that champion our work; and the city officials and institutions that believe in our mission.

There are endless examples, and our recent Spelling Bee is a fantastic one. It was a true community event, held at Yale, hosted by top WTNH anchors, judged by a committee of city officials, and sponsored by 17 local businesses, individuals, and organizations. The outcome was $34,000 raised on a night that was fun, memorable, and open to everyone.

NHR students

Last but definitely not least, we are thankful for the students who inspire everything we do! Our students are the reason that families show up, community members volunteer, and partners stand with us. And teaching them to read is fun, gratifying, meaningful work.

Kirsten recently wrote about one student, who she tutors: 

“It’s an honor to guide Graciela on her journey to literacy, and to have seen my former two students grow over time, not just into readers but into bright young learners on the path to success. Our lives change together through the time we spend in books. I hope you’ll join me and volunteer to work with a child today.”

Our students enrich the lives of our volunteers and staff, and inspire us by showing up excited for what they’re going to learn each day. It’s not always easy work, but our students make a commitment to themselves to try their best, knowing they’re in a warm and caring environment. We look forward to seeing them, and they look forward to seeing us:  it’s not uncommon for students to dash in, ready to say hello and get reading, and to leave still chatting with their tutor. 

To be able to read is an essential skill that everyone deserves the chance to develop. Today and every day, we’re thankful for the generous community that makes our work possible.

From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

We look forward to welcoming new students each year, and this September, we welcomed Cassie. On her very first day, the 7-year-old girl entered with some hesitation and confided to her tutor: “I love books, but I can’t read them.” 

New Haven Reads was founded to support students like Cassie through one-on-one literacy programs based in research. Cassie knew many of her letters, though she struggled to blend them into words. She loved hearing stories unfold in books and choosing them off the shelves. She wanted to learn to read, and her tutor knew she would and could. A few weeks later Cassie sight-read a few short words and looks forward to tutoring hours.  

She wanted to learn to read, and her tutor knew she would and could.

Thanks to your support, we provide this life-changing work at no cost to families, and have impacted more than 4,000 students since 2001. Will you continue to support our readers in the coming year with a financial gift? We are counting on your support!

Please make a tax-deductible donation to New Haven Reads today to share the joy and power of reading.

We know from the 234 names on our waiting list that many more children like Cassie need access to our programs; and data shows just 33 percent of third-grade students in New Haven met language and literacy standards in 2018. 

When students are struggling in the classroom, families turn to New Haven Reads. It’s a commitment for children and their guardians, with weekly sessions, reports, regulations—and it’s worth it, because we get results. Just last year: 

• 100 percent of first-, second-, and third-grade students improved in at least one area of reading;
• 90 percent improved their phonics scores; and
• 70 percent increased their independent reading by at least one grade level. 

Three in 10 students showed improvement in every area of reading.

On that first day when Cassie’s mom picked her up from tutoring, the girl couldn’t wait to share that she had so much fun reading. She had sung her vowels, giggled at silly Dr. Seuss characters, sounded out three-letter words, and glimpsed her own great potential. And that was one afternoon. 

It’s exciting to consider the journey ahead, and all the places their stories could go.

Every day we tutor, at five sites across the city, stories are changing. Not only are students thriving, making strides, and leveling-up in their workbooks, but others are just getting started, taking their first big steps, in a warm, caring environment. It’s exciting to consider the journey ahead, and all the places their stories could go.

When you support New Haven Reads, you directly support children like Cassie, who are motivated, engaged, and excited to unlock the power of reading. With your help, she will. 

Please consider making a tax-deductible financial contribution to ensure that New Haven Reads can serve more students with highly-effective programming in a warm, caring environment.

Click here to contribute today!

Thanks to our incredible community, there is no shortage of ways to support New Haven Reads—from book donations and financial contributions to working directly with one of our amazing students.

Just this evening, for instance, Iota Chi Sigma will collect young adult and children’s books for NHR during a Founders’ Day event at 116 Crown. For the duration of this month, the University of New Haven CLR will collect books and school supplies to donate to our students.

And from now until January 5, 2020, you can help us spread the joy and power of reading by making a Target run. 

New Haven Reads is proud to be part of the nationwide Target Circle initiative:  a chance for Target patrons to earn votes as they shop and select a nonprofit to receive corporate donations from the store. We’re among a small group of regional organizations from which you can choose, and every trip to Target means another opportunity to vote! 

At check-out on a recent shop, we learned how easy it is to give through Target Circle—and that our impact at New Haven Reads reaches far and wide. “My nephew goes to New Haven Reads,” our cashier shared, “and he has grown so much as a reader. He has more confidence and more excitement about books than before.” 

We hope you’ll consider New Haven Reads with your vote next time you’re at Target. Thanks for all you to do help us spread the joy and power of reading!

Fuchsia, desiccate, and vermilion were among the tricky words that stumped our contenders Friday night during the 8th Annual NHR Spelling Bee. Yet the competition came down to another unusual word, numnah, which launched students from Hopkins School to victory in the final round. 

Altogether, nearly 375 people attended the Bee at the Yale School of Management, and dozens of incredible local businesses and individuals united to support the event through generous contributions, sponsorships, and choosing to compete as spellers.

“The Spelling Bee is our organization’s interpretation of a gala event: a little fancy, a lot of fun, and all about literacy,” said our executive director, Kirsten Levinsohn. 

This year’s event was co-hosted by WTNH reporters Keith Kountz and Ann Nyberg. Radio host Joe Ugly served as Word Master, and our judges were Ray Andrewsen (general manager, WQUN), Stacy Spell (project manager, Project Longevity), and state Sen. Gary Winfield.

We’re proud to say that WTNH and the Arts Paper (Arts Council of Greater New Haven) came to the Bee, too. Click below to find their excellent coverage: 

• New Haven Reads on WTNH

• New Haven Reads in the Arts Paper

Of course, the great triumph of our Bee—beyond the fun, the wonderful costumes, and the fancy medals—is the money raised by a dedicated community to help young people learn to read. 

Working together, we raised $34,000 before and during the Spelling Bee! All proceeds will directly support our after-school reading programs (which impact the lives of hundreds of students each week), and our unique community resource, the Bristol Street Book Bank. 

Below, we’ve shared a gallery of photographs from the Bee. See if you can find yourself or your friends!

The Bee is our most significant fundraiser of  the year, and plays a special role in supporting our work—the need for which is great and growing. Here’s how Lucy Gellman put it Tuesday in her Arts Paper story:

“While New Haven Reads tutors 550 kids a week, an all-time high of 234 more remain on the waitlist. Friday, a few attendees gleefully raised their hands and signed up to tutor before the end of the evening.”

When community members join us each year for the NHR Spelling Bee, they help us meet that need.

“New Haven Reads is so amazingly successful because all kinds of people from all over the community come together for a common cause: to support our city’s youngest readers,” Kirsten said Friday in her Spelling Bee speech. “Let’s continue to work together to help all of our children learn to read, so that their dreams can come true as well.”

“Let’s continue to work together to help all of our children learn to read, so that their dreams can come true as well.”

Thank you! We’re already looking forward to next year’s Spelling Bee, and hope you are, too. It’s never too early to start planning your name, your costume, and your game plan to win the trophy.

In the meantime, we hope you’ll consider a different kind of contribution:  signing up to volunteer for as little as one hour a week reading with students after school. 

At New Haven Reads, our work is made possible thanks to enduring and enriching community partnerships. Our 8th Annual Spelling Bee is no different.

Please take a moment to view our slideshow of 2019 sponsors, and to learn more about each of the businesses, individuals, and institutions that choose to support our mission!

You may also view or download a full copy of our Spelling Bee program here.

When students arrive at Ms. Audra’s classroom in Science Park, they’re used to finding a Riddle of the Week to solve, like, “What travels all around the world but stays in one place?” Since mid-September, Ms. Audra has been using the real estate on her whiteboard to put forth another challenge: “Let’s learn Spanish!”

Each week, in honor of National Hispanic American Heritage Month, students can practice a different phrase, like “Mi nombre es…” or “Me gusto leer.” 

National Hispanic American Heritage Month runs from Sept 15 to Oct. 15, to honor Hispanic culture and to pay “tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched” communities throughout our nation. More than 56.6 million people in the United States are Hispanic, which adds up to about 18 percent of the population, and here at New Haven Reads, 40 percent percent of our students are Hispanic. 

While we strive to celebrate Hispanic culture year-long, this special month gives us another reason to shine a light on the rich stories, heroes, artwork, and accomplishments of Hispanic Americans and Hispanic countries across the world. As always, our favorite way to celebrate is with books and language—from Ms. Audra’s mini lesson in Spanish, to curated book displays at each of our tutoring sites.

At our Willow Street site, Ms. Carol was proud to top the bookshelves with a wide range of titles to ring in National Hispanic American Heritage Months, from biographies on Frida Kahlo to an illustrated compilation of Latin American folktales called The Dragon Slayer. 

Want to donate diverse titles for New Haven Reads to redistribute free of charge into the community? Or explore our existing selection? Learn more about contributions here, and visit our Bristol Street Book Bank during the following hours: 

Monday to Wednesday: 1 – 7 p.m.
Thursday: 1 – 6 p.m.
Friday: 12 – 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Almost 40 years ago, Jacques Bailly⁠ won the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee with the word elucubrate. We’re thinking about words even more than usual at New Haven Reads, as we prepare to test the mettle of competitors in our own Spelling Bee next month. This particular word stood out. 

Why? Elucubrate means “to burn the midnight oil,” so to speak—or, literally: “To produce by long and intensive effort.” And that’s a great way to describe the work that goes into our annual Spelling Bee.

When folks swarm the Yale School of Management on Oct. 25, whether to compete for our 8th annual trophy or cheer from the audience, they’ll experience an unforgettable night that represents the combined efforts of so many community members. Our partners make our Spelling Bee possible, and we couldn’t be more thankful. 

This year, we’re proud to call these Greater New Haven organizations and individuals our Spelling Bee sponsors:

2019 Gold Sponsors

2019 Silver Sponsors

2019 Bronze Sponsors

We hold our annual Spelling Bee to raise funds for year-long literacy programs that we provide, free of charge, to students and families in the community. That’s why our sponsors support our work, too—like Claire Criscuolo, the owner of Claire’s Corner Copia. 

“I’ve seen first hand the way your work changes lives! Actually changes lives.”

Claire Criscuolo, Bronze Spelling Bee Sponsor

Claire recently shared with us the story of Angel: the son of one of Claire’s long-time team members at the restaurant. Angel was having a tough time in school because of his low reading scores.

“As we know,” Claire says, “if you can’t read well, you can’t do as well in school.” That’s because literacy is a fundamental building block for all education that follows—so Claire and her coworker tried everything they could to help Angel become a stronger reader. Eventually, they found Angel an opening at New Haven Reads. 

“Even after just the first year, his confidence was in line with his success in reading,” Claire says. “I could see it in his everyday actions: he felt more comfortable speaking and engaging, and he started to enjoy school. This is huge!”

Today, Angel is a senior at Eli Whitney Technical School in New Haven, on track to become an electrician. In his time outside of class, Angel shares what he’s learned from New Haven Reads with his younger brother Jacob—also an NHR student—by encouraging and guiding him in literacy practice at home. 

“We all benefit when we allow every child to reach their full potential,” Claire says. “And that’s sustainable!”

To learn more about our sponsors and why they support New Haven Reads, follow along on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook as we count down to the 8th Annual Spelling Bee on Oct. 25. Want to compete? Team spots are going fast! Register your three-person team here for $225, and remember: 100 percent of proceeds go toward free New Haven Reads literacy programs.