Subscribe to get notified about new events!

Lead to Read KC

Lead to Read KC connects students with reading mentors to foster literacy and a love for reading. They aim to empower children through one-on-one mentoring, enhancing their reading skills and confidence for a brighter future.

Join us at KC Mom&#39;s Collective Hanging with the Heroes&nbsp;Engage with children and families by playing giant Mad Libs, collect books as part of KC Mom&#39;s Collective Book Drive. 📚 Register below to reserve your spot

KC Mom's Collective Hanging with the Heroes

Trivia Night is a high-energy, community-favorite fundraiser led by Lead to Read KC&rsquo;s Associate Board. This fun and competitive evening attracts young professionals and longtime supporters alike, all rallying around literacy with friendly competition, drinks, and prizes. Bring your friends, test your knowledge, and enjoy a relaxed night while supporting Lead to Read KC&#39;s work to provide Reading Mentors, books, and literacy support to local students.

Trivia Night

Join the City of Kansas City United Way Kickoff Event to stand with Lead to Read KC. Together, we&rsquo;re responding to the literacy crisis by connecting local students with reading mentors and a steady supply of books. 📚 1 shift, 2 volunteers, outdoor event*Help recruit new Reading Mentors&nbsp; Your participation helps bring caring adults into classrooms, across Kansas City. ❤️ Register below to support students as they build the reading skills they need for school and beyond.

City Of Kansas City United Way Kickoff Event

Reading Mentors, kick off the new year of reading sessions at our Back to School BBQ, supported by Security 1st Title!&nbsp; At this casual event, you&#39;ll have the opportunity to meet your Site Coordinator, connect with fellow mentors and enjoy good food and conversation with the Lead to Read KC community.&nbsp; Attendees are also invited to bring a new or like-new children&#39;s book to support <a fr-original-style="" href="https://leadtoreadkc.org/book-drive" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">The Kansas City Book Drive</a>, hosted by Lead to Read KC! The book drive runs August 17-23 at more than a dozen independent book store locations across the metro, and the BBQ is a great opportunity to contribute. The event is free, but registration is required to attend.&nbsp;Bring your friends and family who are interested in being a Reading Mentor! NOTE:&nbsp;Venue has changed to Fire House KC at 4518 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64110.

Back to School BBQ

Help Lead to Read KC recruit new Reading Mentors for the 2026 - 27 school year and distribute children&#39;s books at the Community Services League Back to School Fair, inside Cable Dahmer Arena.

Community Services League Back to School Event

Help Lead to Read KC recruit new Reading Mentors for the 2026 - 27 school year at Boulevard Brewing Company&#39;s Sunday Bingo.

Boulevard Bingo

Help Lead to Read KC recruit new Reading Mentors for the 2026 - 27 school year and distribute children&#39;s books at the Ivanhoe Farmer&#39;s Market.

Ivanhoe Farmer's Market Back to School Event

Help Lead to Read KC recruit new Reading Mentors for the 2026 - 27 school year and distribute children&#39;s books at this Back to School event.

Mattie Rhodes Back to School Event

Lead to Read KC is Sporting KC&#39;s Community Partner spotlight for the August 1st match, and the theme is Harry Potter! In partnership with Central Bank, Sporting KC will host a book drive leading up to the game. In addition to an internal drive, game attendees will receive a voucher for a free wand, while supplies last. Lead to Read volunteers are needed to stand at each stadium entrance to collect books and distribute voucher coupons. Sporting KC will provide bins and training. Volunteers are welcome to stay for the game, with a free ticket provided by Sporting KC!

Sporting KC Community Partner of the Game

Join us for a CMH Lead to Read KC Info Session 📚✨ Learn how you can support Kansas City students by reading with them weekly or twice a month. In this brief session, you&rsquo;ll hear how our volunteer Reading Mentors help children build skills, confidence, and a genuine interest in books. Fill out this form to reserve your spot and get details about timing, location, and next steps to start reading with a student.

CMH Lead to Read KC Info Session

Help Lead to Read KC recruit new Reading Mentors for the 2026 - 27 school year and distribute children&#39;s books at the Juneteenth Heritage Festival. This event is outside under a tent. A parking pass will be provided at St. Monica Church.

Juneteenth Heritage Festival

Help Lead to Read KC recruit new Reading Mentors for the 2026 - 27 school year, distribute children&#39;s books and engage children and families in literacy games.

KCK Juneteenth Celebration

Help Lead to Read KC recruit new Reading Mentors for the 2026 - 27 school year and collect book donations at the Ranch Mart Summer Extravaganza. This event is outside under a tent.

Ranch Mart Summer Extravaganza

Help Lead to Read KC recruit new Reading Mentors for the 2026 - 27 school year at the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Age of Celebration, an aging services fair for 60+ year old attendees. Volunteers can be any age! :) This event is outside under a tent.

MARC Age of Celebration

The first event was rained out, so we're looking for volunteers for May 15th. Engage with Royals Literacy League school families by playing giant Mad Libs and distributing literacy resources. Recruit volunteers to read in Lead to Read KC partner schools.

Book Club at the Ballpark - New Date

KC Reads: Sports Edition! is a dynamic gathering that brings together Kansas City&rsquo;s business, civic, community, and sports leaders to explore what makes our city great, on the field, in the workplace, and across our schools, and what it will take to keep winning. Through conversation, connection, and a powerful panel discussion, we&rsquo;ll spotlight literacy as the foundation for long-term success. Every child in our city deserves the tools to become a champion in whatever arena they choose. In a city that knows how to win, let&rsquo;s lead the way in literacy, too. <a fr-original-style="" href="https://leadtoreadkc.org/kcreads/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Event Details</a>&nbsp; | &nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://leadtoreadkc.org/kcreads-sponsor/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Sponsorship Opportunities</a>

TEST DO NOT USE - KC Reads: Sports Edition!

Join our raffle to win big while supporting our mission! Two prizes are up for grabs: Sporting KC prize package ($300 value):<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Four (4) regular tickets for a mutually agreeable game in 2026</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Four (4) game scarves</li></ul>Kansas City Royals prize package:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Four (4) lower-level seat tickets for a mutually agreeable game in 2026</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">One (1) reserved parking pass</li></ul>Each ticket you purchase directly supports our literacy programming. Thank you for your support!

Kansas City Reads: Sports Edition! Raffle

Join our raffle to win big while supporting our mission! Two prizes are up for grabs: Sporting KC prize package ($300 value):<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Four (4) regular SKC tickets for a mutually agreeable game in 2026</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Four (4) game scarves</li></ul>Kansas City Royals prize package:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">TBD</li></ul>Each ticket you purchase directly supports our literacy programming. Thank you for your support!

TEST - DO NOT USE

Engage with The Children&#39;s Place families by playing games and distributing literacy resources.&nbsp;

The Children's Place Family Fun Night

Engage with children and families by playing giant Mad Libs and distributing literacy resources. Recruit volunteers to read in Lead to Read KC partner schools.

Children's Lit Fest

Engage with Royals Literacy League school families by playing giant Mad Libs and distributing literacy resources. Recruit volunteers to read in Lead to Read KC partner schools.

Book Club at the Ballpark

Help Lead to Read KC recruit volunteers by tabling at the Resurrection Church Men&#39;s Conference. You will be stationed in the lobby having casual conversations during the conference. Set up and clean up will be taken care of for you.

Resurrection Church Men's Conference

Wear your support for Lead to Read KC on your sleeve! Every purchase directly supports connecting local students with a reading mentor. Please allow 10 business days for processing. Orders made without purchasing Shipping will be held at the <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.canva.com/design/DAGSQjbqW2I/J_cP88V1lKlgh-bLECs6ug/view?utm_content=DAGSQjbqW2I&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Lead to Read KC office</a> for pickup during regular business hours, Monday through Wednesday.

Wear your support for Lead to Read KC on your sleeve! Every purchase directly supports connecting local students with a reading mentor.Please allow 10 business days for processing. Orders made without purchasing Shipping will be held at the Lead to Read KC office for pickup during regular business hours, Monday through Wednesday.

T-shirt Store

School-age children spend <a fr-original-style="" href="https://youth.gov/youth-topics/afterschool-programs/benefits-youth-families-and-communities" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">80% of their waking hours outside of school</a>, but 61% of families in under-resourced neighborhoods have no books for the children in their homes. Lead to Read KC is working to improve those numbers by distributing books through multiple channels. During the 2025-2026 school year alone, we distributed 56,625 new and like-new children&rsquo;s books, but it&rsquo;s about more than just the numbers. We curate our offerings to ensure the best possible selection is available for each child, no matter where they connect with us. Your help in processing and shelving book donations is vital to this process. Volunteers will receive an introductory training and be guided through their work cleaning, sorting, labeling and shelving book donations. This event is a fun opportunity to volunteer with friends or colleagues while talking about books you enjoyed as a child and seeing what&rsquo;s popular today! Groups of up to 20 volunteers are welcome, or sign up individually! Volunteers ages 12+ are invited, but anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.canva.com/design/DAGSQjbqW2I/J_cP88V1lKlgh-bLECs6ug/view?utm_content=DAGSQjbqW2I&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">View location and parking details.</a>

Fun Friday Book Sorting

Ecosystem the Vibes Market 📚🎪 brings together local makers, neighbors, and book lovers to learn about Lead to Read KC&rsquo;s work connecting students with reading mentors, tutoring, and new books. Share Lead to Read KC with the community, enjoy live experiences, and help fill classrooms and community spaces with stories kids can see themselves in. Play literacy games and hand out free books. Your time here fuels one-on-one reading support and 4,500+ books shared across Kansas City each month.

Ecosystem the Vibes Market 10/10/26 9am-1pm

Join us at the Annual Education Fair to explore how stronger reading skills open doors for local students 📚. Staff the Lead to Read KC booth, share about Reading Mentors who connect children with one-on-one reading support and free books. Play literacy games and give away free books. Together, we can ensure more Kansas City students have the reading foundation they deserve.

Annual Education Fair

School-age children spend <a fr-original-style="" href="https://youth.gov/youth-topics/afterschool-programs/benefits-youth-families-and-communities" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">80% of their waking hours outside of school</a>, but 61% of families in under-resourced neighborhoods have no books for the children in their homes. Lead to Read KC is working to improve those numbers by distributing books through multiple channels. During the 2025-2026 school year alone, we distributed 56,625 new and like-new children&rsquo;s books, but it&rsquo;s about more than just the numbers. We curate our offerings to ensure the best possible selection is available for each child, no matter where they connect with us. Your help in processing and shelving book donations is vital to this process. Volunteers will receive an introductory training and be guided through their work fulfilling book donation needs. This event is a fun opportunity to volunteer with friends or colleagues while talking about books you enjoyed as a child and seeing what&rsquo;s popular today! Groups of up to 20 volunteers are welcome, or sign up individually! Volunteers ages 12+ are invited, but anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.canva.com/design/DAGSQjbqW2I/J_cP88V1lKlgh-bLECs6ug/view?utm_content=DAGSQjbqW2I&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">View location and parking details.</a>

Fourth Thursday Book Fulfillment

<a fr-original-style="" href="https://leadtoreadkc.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Lead to Read KC</a> and <a fr-original-style="" href="https://rainydaybooks.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Rainy Day Books</a> present <a fr-original-style="" href="https://leadtoreadkc.org/bookfair/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">The KC Book Fair</a>, an all-ages event celebrating literacy, storytelling, and community impact. This immersive evening features food, drinks, music, and local literary flair. Guests experience the joy of books while supporting young readers. Ticket sales support Lead to Read KC programs, with fair purchases funding a free book fair for one Lead to Read KC partner school. The full experience<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Sip on a drink from <a fr-original-style="" href="https://madeinkc.co/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Made in KC</a> while you browse the raffle prizes</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Sample a variety of foods from local restaurant <a fr-original-style="" href="https://nourskc.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Nour&#39;s</a></li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Explore a selection of books for all ages from <a fr-original-style="" href="https://rainydaybooks.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Rainy Day Books</a></li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Enter the premium raffle to <a fr-original-style="" href="https://leadtoreadkc.org/bookfair/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">win a signed Patrick Mahomes helmet</a></li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Chat with friends new and old while listening to our live DJ</li></ul>

The KC Book Fair

Help Kansas City kids discover new stories at the KC Book Fair. 📚 As a Book Fair Volunteer, you&rsquo;ll welcome guests, guide them through book choices, and keep tables stocked and organized. Your time supports Lead to Read KC&rsquo;s mission to connect students with reading mentors, resources, and unwavering support.&nbsp;

Lead to Read KC

Events

Events

Fun Friday Book Sorting

Get your tickets

Ecosystem the Vibes Market 10/10/26 9am-1pm

Get your tickets

Annual Education Fair

Get your tickets

Fourth Thursday Book Fulfillment

Get your tickets

The KC Book Fair

Get your tickets

Book Fair Volunteers

Get your tickets

November Book Fulfillment

Get your tickets

More ways to support us

T-shirt Store

View shop

Powered by