Get Involved

  • Literacy Mentors, AKA tutors, are the heart of Winn Reading. They enjoy spending time with children, share a passion for reading, and are cheerful role models/cheerleaders for their assigned students. 

    School literacy mentors simply listen to a child read or use the teacher’s or our provided supplemental reading resources to help the child with needed skills. Mentors should be available once a week to work with their students for one hour during the school day or as part of an after-school program.

    Storytime literacy mentors are available as needed to participate in our public storytimes offered at various coffee shops and bookstores around Cincinnati. They enjoy reading aloud to early readers and bringing fun and imagination to each storytime.

    Retired teachers, adults, and college students are welcome to be a vital part of Winn Reading. Interested in becoming a literacy mentor? Fill out this form.

  • Winn Reading works with both students and teachers. We focus on helping children in grades Kindergarten through Third Grade. While working in classrooms, teachers provide input to our literacy mentors on which students need help and which skills they need extra support. We are willing to work with students already getting reading assistance from a reading specialist or who need that little push to gain their confidence in reading. If you are a teacher or after-school program leader interested in bringing Winn Reading to your students, please get in touch with us.

  • Your tax-deductible donation makes our mission possible. Donate now.

What Literacy Mentors, Teachers & Parents Are Saying About Winn Reading:

“I get such great joy from spending time with the kids! It warms my heart! We’ve started to develop relationships so much that some of them come to the classroom door to see when it’s their time to work with me. This tells me they enjoy the opportunity to continue learning and growing.”

- LORI, LITERACY MENTOR

“The program has been excellent for the students here - the volunteers show up with such kindness, ready to put in their best for each child. Every week, my students are excited for their reading lessons and make academic gains due to this enriching learning opportunity. Thank you, Winn Reading!”

- ABBIE, SANDS MONTESSORI TEACHER

“Volunteering with Winn Reading is extremely rewarding. Assisting the students in the development of their reading skills and seeing their progress is so gratifying. Their energy and enthusiasm are contagious!”

- PEGGY, LITERACY MENTOR

“For the first that I’ve ever witnessed, my son picked up a book and started sounding out words. I definitely see his confidence growing!”

- JEN, PARENT

“My experience with Winn Reading has been wonderful. The mentors have been great with the kids; they’ve built relationships with them, and added another reading layer to their learning. This is a program that I hope continues and can reach more students.

- AMANDA, MT. WASHINGTON SCHOOL TEACHER

“I love this stuff. I get my grandmother fix from it.”

- LAURA, LITERACY MENTOR