Eric Rinaldo, United Way of Chautauqua County community impact manager, reads to school children in Fredonia during the United Way’s 2025 Literacy Week. The week-long initiative is presented in partnership with CHQ Professionals Group and is sponsored in part by Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation who provide a grant to purchase the books which students get to take home.

Registration is now open for United Way of Chautauqua County’s annual Literacy Week initiative, which will take place April 20-24 at participating school districts.

Community members interested in volunteering are encouraged to sign up soon so preparations can be finalized for the annual event, which last year reached 1,975 students — all of whom received a brand-new book to take home to further foster a love of reading.

Each year, United Way brings together volunteers from businesses, civic groups, nonprofits, and the broader community to read to students in their classrooms. The week-long initiative is presented in partnership with CHQ Professionals Group and is sponsored in part by Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation who provide a grant to purchase the books which students get to take home.

During last year’s Literacy Week, more than 70 volunteers visited 118 classrooms at six school districts. Participating schools this year include Brocton Elementary, Dunkirk City School District, Fredonia Elementary, Forestville Elementary, Ripley Elementary, Sherman Elementary, Sinclairville Elementary and Wheelock Elementary.

“For more than a decade, United Way has been championing the importance of literacy to school children through this event,” said Daniel Siracuse, United Way of Chautauqua County northern community relations coordinator. “Literacy Week is one of the clearest examples of our mission in action. When volunteers step into a classroom to read with students, they’re showing the children that their community believes in them and supports their success.”

Facilitating initiatives such as this remains a key priority for United Way of Chautauqua County, aligning with the organization’s commitment to Youth Opportunity and helping foster early reading habits that support long-term academic success.

In addition to the support from the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, donations from businesses and individuals who sign up as “book sponsors” also help to provide the books which get distributed to students.

“We’re excited to partner with United Way on Literacy Week for the fifth year, continuing a collaboration that has become incredibly meaningful for our group,” said Monica Simpson, co-chair of CHQ Professionals Group and partner engagement coordinator for the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth. “This initiative gives our members a chance to connect with new people, grow their professional network, and take part in hands-on volunteer opportunities that directly impact our community. Seeing how excited students get about books and knowing that something as simple as reading together can make them happy is what makes this experience so rewarding.”

Individuals from the community as well as teams from interested businesses are invited to register now to read to classrooms during Literacy Week. Volunteers who speak Spanish and would be willing to read in Spanish are also needed for this year’s Literacy Week.

To sign up or for more details, text “readchq” to 41444 or visit https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/Th6YSw.

Those interested in becoming a book sponsor can donate by texting text “readchqsponsor” to 41444.