Hooked on Books for Kids is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization devoted to literacy, the love of reading and life-long learning among the underprivileged children and youth of Erie County, Pennsylvania. It accomplishes these missions by giving brand-new, high-quality books to underprivileged children and youths from birth to age 18 and by providing adult volunteer readers and new books for every child each month in grades Kindergarten through five at Edison and Lincoln Schools. Since its founding in 1990, Hooked on Books has distributed nearly 500,000 books to Erie County’s youth. 

The timing of this fundraiser is set in place by Read Across America Day. Behrend will be hosting a Read-A-Thon, whereby students can pledge to read so many pages based on the donations given, or simply give their donations without reading, if they would like to participate. The Read-A-Thon will go from February 28 to March 4. During this time frame, reading can be done, and money can be collected. 

Each group will send its funds back to your school’s representative. The Behrend representative for this fundraiser is Alanna Gillis. All money is due to the representative by March 14. There are two ways money can be collected, either by Venmo to Alanna-Gillis-2 or direct cash, please email amg7393@psu.edu to schedule a drop-off time.

There is no minimum requirement to donate, and a donation of any size is both incredibly helpful and appreciated. 

Behrend will be competing with Gannon and Edinboro to see which college can raise the most for Hooked on Books. There is also competition within the colleges to see which group can raise the most money; the winners will receive a plaque. 

Interested participants should email amg7393@psu.edu for further information, as well as an interactive bingo board that makes donating fun!