Donate
Give the Gift of a Stronger Start
Help Reach Out and Read Illinois Nurture Young Minds, One Book at a Time
Every child deserves the chance to grow up with the words, love, and support they need to thrive. Only one in three children in Illinois have access to a Reach Out and Read program – you can help change that by supporting our program expansion and putting more books in the hands of young children.
The Science is Clear:
Reading Builds Brains
Children who participate in Reach Out and Read show stronger language skills and larger vocabularies
Parents are 2.5x more likely to read aloud to their children every day
Early exposure to books fosters secure attachment, resilience, and cognitive development
The program works because it meets families where they are, at the doctor’s office, using moments of trust to build habits that last a lifetime.
More Creative Ways to Donate
Supporting Reach Out and Read Illinois goes beyond traditional giving. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone, building community, or simply love the idea of helping children thrive, here are a few meaningful ways you can make an impact:
Celebrate with Purpose
Turn your birthday, wedding, or special event into a celebration of early literacy. Ask your loved ones to donate in your honor or host a book drive in place of gifts. It’s a powerful way to spread joy and support families across Illinois.
Donate New Children’s Books
Books are at the heart of everything we do—and we welcome donations of new, high-quality, developmentally appropriate books for children ages birth to 5.
Please note:
• Books must be brand new
• No religious content, sensitive topics, or used materials
• For suggested titles, please visit the Reach Out & Read page on Bookshop.org
Host a Book Drive
Books are expensive, and community book drives play a critical role in ensuring every child receives the books they need to grow and thrive. If you’d like to host a book drive in your community, we’ll provide helpful guidelines and support to make your efforts a success.
Looking for Guidance?
Email our team with your questions and plans and we can help!
Why Donate to Reach Out and Read?
We give families a simple yet powerful prescription for success: read together every day.
By partnering with pediatricians and healthcare providers, Reach Out and Read integrates early literacy and emotional bonding into more than 120,000 well-child visits across Illinois each year.
Families receive:
- A new, developmentally appropriate book at every visit from birth through age 5
- Guidance from pediatricians on how and why to read together
- A foundation for school readiness, language development, and nurturing relationships
This is more than just giving out books, it’s evidence-based early intervention backed by decades of scientific research.
How Your Gift Makes a Difference
Reach Out and Read Illinois is powered by generosity, not insurance. Each book, each visit, and each family reached is made possible because people like you believe in brighter beginnings. When you give to Reach Out and Read Illinois, you’re helping more than just one child, you’re strengthening families, clinics, and entire communities.
Your support helps us:
- Provide families with high-quality, developmentally appropriate books during pediatric visits
- Equip pediatric teams with training to promote reading, bonding, and early brain development
- Expand our reach to new clinics and underserved communities across Illinois
- Ensure that every child receives consistent support from birth through age five
- Sustain a proven model that weaves literacy and connection into everyday healthcare
Your donation becomes a lasting investment in a child’s future, laying the groundwork for stronger language skills, deeper relationships, and brighter educational outcomes.
Donate Today
& Shape a Lifetime of Successful Learning
Your donation to Reach Out and Read Illinois helps ensure that every child enters kindergarten with the language, confidence, and connection they need to succeed.
Together, we can build a healthier Illinois—one book, one family, one visit at a time.
