Everybody Wins!
What is Everybody Wins! Power Lunch?
Power Lunch is a unique literacy and mentoring program. During lunchtime from October to May, volunteers meet one-on-one with a student to enjoy books and conversation. By reading aloud, volunteers promote reading for pleasure and provide the positive support and encouragement that helps children believe that they too can be successful in school and in life.
Everybody WINS! is a core program of, and is solely funded by, Beginning with Books and is an affiliate of Everybody Wins! USA.
Why Read Aloud?
The future of our community depends on the education of our children and their education depends on literacy.
Everybody Wins! Power Lunch program currently serves 110 school children in grades 1, 2, and 3 for 30 weeks each year. Assuming a child begins in grade 1, he or she is read to one-on-one for nearly 50 extra hours and will have accumulated a minimum of 15 high quality children's books for his or her home library. Because literacy problems are much more acute among low-income students, the individualized attention of Everybody Wins! has the potential to have a great impact upon student achievement. Successful partnerships with Pittsburgh companies are the key to our success. The Power Lunch program of Everybody Wins! provides opportunities for companies to go into the Pittsburgh Public Schools, offer their time, and to make a difference in the lives of these children.
How does Power Lunch work?
On the same day each week, volunteers spend their lunch breaks reading one-on-one with a student at a nearby elementary school.
Volunteers commit to Power Lunch and their student for one year. In order to establish consistency, but still allow schedule flexibility, many volunteers partner with a co-worker to read with their shared student on alternate weeks. Volunteers come from businesses, universities, community organizations, faith-based institutions, and government agencies. Volunteers must attend an orientation prior to being matched with a student.
We have the books, reading space, and students. Do you have an hour a week to spend with a child?
How can I volunteer?
Please complete and submit our on-line Everybody Wins! Volunteer Application or print an application.
You must also complete a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance form. Please read the directions about completing the form carefully. Incomplete forms are returned and thus delay the matching process.
Please mail your completed application and clearance form to Everybody Wins c/o Beginning with Books 5920 Kirkwood Street Pittsburgh, PA 15206.
We will process your application and send the clearance form to the state. We'll then arrange an orientation at a time and location that are convenient. We will match you with a student as soon as we receive your cleances back from the state.