Do you remember your favorite childhood book? A particular paperback you simply couldn’t put down? I was a fan of Junie B. Jones myself, but I didn’t stop there. That’s in part because my elementary school and local library offered a substantial array of offerings to satisfy my curiosity. Every bookshelf had a new treasure just waiting for me to crack open, underscoring the importance of investing in reading.

Needless to say, reading was a formative part of my youth (and part of why I’m writing in these pages today). But picking up a good book is even more important for Generation Alpha. Living in a “digital age” means we tend to discount books and the value they bring entirely. The SONIC Foundation recognizes this urgency and is committing to provide $1.25 million toward classroom libraries.

The SONIC Foundation focuses on supporting communities and education. Its “Limeades for Learning” program funds classroom projects by partnering with DonorsChoose, providing resources like books, technology, and supplies to teachers. The SONIC Foundation and DonorsChoose seek to support local schools across the U.S., enhancing educational opportunities and community engagement in the process. Since 2009, the program has donated over $27 million nationwide, impacting millions of students and thousands of teachers.

In October, SONIC Foundation announced that it will match up to $1.25 million in donations that support classroom libraries in partnership with DonorsChoose. The latter is a nonprofit organization that allows public school teachers to request funding for classroom projects and resources. Teachers post specific needs—such as books, technology, art supplies, or science kits—to the DonorsChoose website, and donors can browse these requests and choose to contribute any amount to help fund the project that resonates most strongly with them. Once fully funded, DonorsChoose purchases the requested materials and sends them directly to the school.

The SONIC initiative "Fill Every Shelf" is a DonorsChoose project aimed at equipping classrooms with essential books and literacy materials such as headphones that allow for text-to-speech accommodations. The initiative enables teachers to focus on building their classroom libraries, ensuring students have access to engaging and educational reading resources (just like I did so many years ago!). While many DonorsChoose projects cover a wide range of classroom needs—from whiteboards to classroom games to theater costumes—this particular campaign directly funds reading materials, aiming to improve book access and encourage a love for reading among students. The site shows whether a teacher has been funded before, how many students the project will reach, and whether a project addresses needs in classrooms in which more than half of the students come from low-income households. This targeted effort ensures books reach classrooms where they are needed most.

Read the full article about investing in reading by Jordan Smith at Philanthropy Daily.