Dear NHR Family,

The Coronavirus is impacting our lives in ways that we could never have imagined a few weeks ago. I hope that you and your families are managing well. Because of the current circumstances, we cannot deliver our regular program as we would like, but our mission “to share the joy and power of reading” remains and our 550+ students continue to be our priority.

As you know, all of 500+ students come to our program reading below grade level. They cannot afford to go weeks without literacy support, let alone months. They thrive at New Haven Reads thanks to the incredible support of our dedicated corps of volunteers and our highly structured and successful program.

It is critical that our students receive literacy support even though they are not in school.  Our team is currently calling all of our families and talking to them about what they need and how we can help. We plan to set up online, one-on-one tutoring for our students in the very near future and we will be contacting our tutors to ask them to help us with that. Our talented team is working to tweak our program to make it successful online to ensure we maximize this time for our students. In this way, we will continue to support our students and their families as we adapt our learning model. 

We look forward to the day when we open our doors and hear students and tutors laughing over a good book, see our book bank filled with field trip classes again, and smile with delight as our kindergartners are sounding out their first words. 

As one of our tutors once told us, “New Haven Reads is our community at its best!” We look forward to bringing together our community online during this crisis and supporting our wonderful students and their families. In the meantime, we know that we can count on you, our treasured supporters, to be with us every step of this journey as we work towards that day!

With love and affection,

Kirsten Levinsohn

Executive Director

Kirsten@test.newhavenreads.org

In line with New Haven Public Schools, New Haven Reads will be closed until further notice from Friday, March 13, 2020 due to concerns related to the coronavirus/COVID-19.

All four locations will be closed and there will be no programs. As the situation changes, we will post updates here on our website and social media.

Thank you for your support of this decision and we hope that you and your families stay healthy.

De acuerdo con las Escuelas Públicas de New Haven, New Haven Reads estará cerrado hasta aviso adicional a partir del viernes 13 de marzo de 2020 debido a preocupaciones relacionadas con el coronavirus/COVID-19.

Los cuatro sitios estarán cerrados y no habrán programas. A medida que la situación cambie, publicaremos actualizaciones aquí en nuestro sitio web y redes sociales (Facebook, Instagram y Twitter).

Gracias por su apoyo a esta decisión y esperamos que usted y sus familias se mantengan saludables.

Read Across America is an initiative on reading created by the National Education Association that began in 1997. One part of the project is National Read Across America Day, an observance in the United States, held on the school day closest to March 2nd. Here at New Haven Reads we celebrate the entire week by doing engaging activities at all four of our locations. 

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.