Everybody Wins! is a lunchtime literacy and mentoring program that pairs elementary school students with volunteers from local companies and other community organizations to share lunch, conversation, and good books. Founded in Pittsburgh in 2002 by the Junior League of Pittsburgh, Everybody Wins! is based on a national model that recognizes the many benefits of reading aloud to children one-on-one.

Beginning with Books has partnered with the Junior League since the early days of the program and transitioned to running Everybody Wins! in 2005. The program is currently funded through a grant from the Junior League.

Over 50 students and 60 volunteers currently participate in Everybody Wins! at Martin Luther King Elementary School on the Northside and Weil Technology Institute in the Hill District. Adult volunteers promote reading for pleasure by reading aloud to the students. They provide the positive support and encouragement which helps the children believe that they too can be successful in school and ultimately in life.

Volunteers come from a variety of companies and organizations, including Alcoa, Equitable Resources, H.J. Heinz, Junior League of Pittsburgh, North Side Leadership Conference, Pittsburgh Pirates, PNC Financial, and Reed Smith.

For more information, contact Tess Riesmeyer, Associate Director of Early Literacy Education at 412-361-8560, x-306.