Our Mission
Guided by the fact that literacy is essential to lifelong success, Page Ahead provides new books and develops reading activities that empower at-risk children. Founded in 1990, Page Ahead Children’s Literacy Program has given more than four million new books to more than one million children through collaborations with schools, social service agencies, preschools, and early childhood programs across Washington. Through our programs, we work to erase the early reading gap for children in communities of concentrated low income before it becomes an “achievement” gap.
Page Ahead has grown from a King County book giveaway project to the leading provider of children’s books and literacy services in the state, currently serving more than 20,000 students in eighteen counties, and our work has attracted attention nationwide: Page Ahead is a top-ranked early childhood education program on Charity Navigator, and we were recognized with a State Literacy Award by the Library of Congress in 2021.
How Your Donations Help
- $3 buys 1 brand-new book for a child in Washington
- $50 builds 1 home library of brand-new books for a child in Washington
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Our Impact
almost 3 years ago — Federal Way
A school librarian in Federal Way told us this about our Book Up Summer program: "Many of our kids don't have books at home. The Page Ahead books are they only books that many of them have ever been able to call their own. When they pick books, especially books that I have read to them in the library, they show me the book or tell me about and say how they have their own copy now and can read and reread them."
almost 3 years ago — Tacoma, Washington
We heard this from a teacher in Tacoma whose students participated in our Book Up Summer program: "Students were very excited to choose the books and to receive them. Some of my reluctant readers were cheering and just couldn't believe that these books are theirs to keep forever and ever. Seeing familiar characters and subjects made it easy for kids to choose what they wanted. One of my reluctant readers was literally hugging several basketball and animal books to his chest and beaming from ear to ear. I LOVE to see that kind of excitement around books!"
almost 3 years ago — Spokane, Washington
We heard from the parent of a kindergartner in Spokane who participated in our Book Up Summer program: "My son was so excited to get new books! Especially how he is learning to read all by himself, it just brings joy to him! We will probably reread these books till you can’t read them anymore! Thank you so much for helping encourage my child and bring fun to learning during the summer. He also has a new baby brother and he’s excited to read all his new books to him. That bonding time will be priceless!"
Causes We Support
Countries We Serve
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Literacy is a human right and is a key component of SDG no. 4, Quality Education. Equitable access to books also contributes to breaking generational cycles of poverty (no. 1), reduces inequalities (no. 2) in education access and community engagement, and help communities maintain good health and well-being (no. 3).