We had a blast hosting our area’s first

LITERACY UNDER THE LIGHTS

Family Reading Event

We are a partner in the region's "Won't You Be a Reader?" literacy campaign this year and were the lead event planners for the Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg area’s first "Literacy Under the Lights" event!

CHECK OUT COVERAGE OF THE EVENT!



WHAT WAS IT? A nighttime, family literacy event, under stadium lights!

  • Three free books for kids from a Scholastic Book Fair

  • Storytimes from special community readers

    • Alex Highsmith - Pittsburgh Steelers

    • First Lady Katie O’Connor - City of Pittsburgh

    • Mayor Dontae Comans - City of Wilkensburg

    • Jorjanne Seaman, Elizabeth Gallup, and Anna Schnabel - Chatham University Women’s Soccer Team

    • Rachel Gardocky, Principal of Kelly Primary School

    • Mike Nichols, Local Storyteller

  • Balloon-twisting from Busy Bee’s Arty Party

  • Face-painting from Face2Face

  • A football-themed bounce house

  • Free food for kids from Caribbean Vybz and Street Fries 4 Ever food trucks

  • Literacy resources for kids and parents

    • Reading is Fundamental (RIF) Pittsburgh

    • Reading Ready Pittsburgh and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library

    • UPMC

    • Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) Early Childhood

    • Trying Together

    • Time Out Academy / Rember They Doubted

    • Youth Enrichment Services

    • Catalyst Academy

    • McCoy Learning Center

  • Photo opportunities with mascots!

    • Steely McBeam - Pittsburgh Steelers

    • Will and Gabi - UPMC



WHERE WAS IT? Chatham University’s UPMC Graham Field



WHEN WAS IT? Thursday, October 8th, 2026 from 5:30 - 7:30pm



WHY? Kids who learn to love reading learn to read!

We wanted to hold an event where kids could self-select books to keep that they are excited about reading and also see adult reading models in action!



THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS!

  • The Grable Foundation

  • Chatham University

  • UPMC

  • Won’t You Be a Reader Initiative