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About Us 

MISSION

Reading Ready Pittsburgh is a non-profit organization supporting the healthy development of young children by increasing access to books and by encouraging significant family engagement through reading.

Reading Ready Pittsburgh offers a variety of literacy programs to Pittsburgh's youngest readers (zero to five). Reading Ready Pittsburgh partners with local childcare centers, the AIU Head Start, AIU Early Head Start programs, and other community organizations to remove some of the barriers families face in having high-quality, age-appropriate books to share in the home and meet families where they are.

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We're making a difference in the Mon Valley. See what Reading Ready Pittsburgh has been up to. 

HISTORY

2017

Raising A Reader is brought to MUSA's Little Lambs Preschool program

2018

Reading Ready Pittsburgh becomes an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

Reading Ready Pittsburgh creates a partnership with the Head Start program at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit

Six new Raising A Reader Programs are opened

2019

Four Little Give-Away Libraries are built and placed in Homestead and Swissvale

Reading Ready Pittsburgh opens three additional Raising A Reader programs 

Reading Ready Pittsburgh hires their first full time employee

2020

Raising A Reader is offered through Home Based Childcare providers

First Early Head Start Home Visiting program begins

Ready4K is offered to Raising A Reader families

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is launched for families with a 15120, 15104, 15145, or 15112 zip code

An Eagle Scout Volunteer builds and erects 3 new little libraries in the Mon Valley

2021

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is launched for families with a 1511o zip code in partnerships with The First Presbyterian Church of Duquesne 

Reading Ready Pittsburgh partners with Heritage Community Initiatives in Braddock to offer the Raising A Reader Program 

Raising A Reader is expanded to kindergarten and first grade classrooms at Propel Homestead

Raising A Reader is expanded to two Head Start classrooms in Braddock 

Reading Ready Pittsburgh adds West Mifflin, Wilkinsburg, and Swissvale to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

2022

Reading Ready Pittsburgh adds Ready 4K parent texting program


First Braddock Literacy Day


Dolly Parton Imagination Library reaches over 1000 children in Mon Valley


Librarian added to staff


Outreach Coordinator added to staff

2023

Second annual Braddock Literacy Day


Expanded programming to Home Visitors throughout Mon Valley and surrounding communities


Reading Ready Pittsburgh serves City of Pittsburgh by serving as interim Dolly Parton Imagination Library coordinator

RRP hires its fourth staff member to serve as Program Coordinator

2024

Reading Ready Pittsburgh opens B is for Books, a free bookstore for children, at 222 East 8th Avenue in Homestead, PA

RRP becomes permanent host of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for the City of Pittsburgh

Third annual Braddock Literacy Day

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