With a belief that she and other middle school students could make a difference in their community, Emily created the “Reading For Others” service project as the culminating activity for the year-long book club activities. She and the other club members read to benefit at-risk children at a local Soup Kitchen, raising over $2,400 in the spring of 2005. They used the money to personally purchase and distribute hundreds of books to at-risk children in the community. This hands-on project not only encouraged the service recipients, but also proved to book club members that reading makes a real difference. Enthusiasm for the book club grew as it began to impact others in the community. Middle school students began to request club chapters as they saw it as a way to have fun with reading and help others. It was this student enthusiasm that was the catalyst for growth leading the book club to incorporate as the non-profit Need To Read Book Club in 2006. Successful club chapters started in public schools, private schools, community organizations, and at-risk children’s groups. Due to the overwhelming success of Need To Read Book Club and the positive response from students, teachers, parents, and community leaders, Spartanburg School District One became the charter school district to place Need To Read Book Club chapters in all of its middle and intermediate schools. In addition, the district continues to serve as a pilot site for developing program materials. Need To Read Book Club has a plan to share its inspiring success with schools and organizations across the nation |
When the reading incentive program offered at her elementary school ended and she prepared for seventh grade, Emily Conrad found an inspiring way to keep herself and other middle school students motivated to read by creating a reading and service club at her school. Incentive programs had made such a difference in her approach to extracurricular reading that she knew she and her classmates would continue to benefit from them. Her book club kept reading fun and meaningful, however she quickly realized that others could also benefit from the club’s enthusiastic readers. 
