At Project Read, reading is more than a project, it’s a ticket to a better life

OUR MISSION

Project Read changes lives through literacy and empowers individuals, strengthens families, builds communities, and creates new cycles of intergenerational literacy.

We believe that every person has the right to the options and opportunities that literacy provides. When literacy is achieved, doors are opened, opportunities gained, and lives are changed.

OUR BELIEF

OUR SERVICES

We provide individual tutoring and small group instruction to help individuals improve their ability to read, write, compute, and use technology sufficiently to meet personal goals, function well in society, and become more productive citizens.

Project Read students live in Utah, are at least 16 years old, speak English competently, and test at or below a 7^th grade level in reading, language, or math. Project Read serves minority adults, low-income adults, and at-risk and special-needs adults, as well as those with learning disabilities. Many are homeless or require public assistance to meet their daily needs. Project Read students are a presumed benefit category for low-moderate income (LMI) services and therefore qualify for Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) funding.

OUR STUDENTS

CORE VALUES

We recognize the worth, quality, and importance of all those associated with Project Read

We empower students and volunteers to affect change in their own lives and the community.

We measure ourselves against accepted standards of literacy but also personal standards of accomplishment.

We are committed to making a positive difference (impact) in our community and in the lives of our students and volunteers.

HEAR IT FROM THOSE
WHO KNOW THE IMPACT

MEET OUR STUDENTS

How can I be part of the solution?

Every volunteer contributes to a positive difference in the lives of their students. The need for Project Read services continues to increase as our community grows and changes

Where are we located?

Project Read serves both Salt Lake and Utah counties. However, tutoring can take place in any public location. Tutors and students regularly meet in the libraries in Salt Lake County, the Provo City Library at Academy Square and other approved public locations.

How can I make a difference?

Our programs are made possible by support from individuals, service groups, foundations, and corporations. A donation of just $25/month provides textbooks for six students and their tutors. A donation of $100/month supports a student for a year.

Support the Cause

Frequently Asked Questions

Become a Literacy Tutor

So…. What is Literacy?

Literacy is the ability to read, write, compute, and use technology at a level that enables an individual to reach his or her full potential as a parent, employee, and community member.

Why Project Read?

We all have friends, family members, coworkers, or neighbors
struggling with illiteracy – even if we don’t know it.

Our Story

Timeline of Events

Hover over a year to see more info

Partnership Created

A BYU master’s student recognized a gap in services for adult learners. There were services for English Language Learners and services for adults working on a high school diploma or GED, but there were no services for adults with low literacy skills. She brought together the Provo City Library, Orem Library, and Provo School District to create Project Read and address the need.

2004
Nonprofit Status
Project Read becomes a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity separate from the Provo School District and Provo City Library. While still housed in the library and grateful for its generosity, separate legal status allows flexibility in fundraising and organizational management.

Rebranding & New Programming

Project Read chose to rebrand, creating a new logo and vision statement: changing lives through literacy. In addition, Project Read added weekly literacy labs to increase student learning opportunities. Since then, improved services to students include additional programs such as a six-month transition program, monthly lunch and learn workshops, and a weekly conversation club.

Expansion

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 required a new approach to instruction and inspired the inclusion of both digital literacy and basic math instruction to Project Read’s mission.