The Panhandle Gives is an annual event hosted and coordinated by the Amarillo Area Foundation (AAF). The event begins on the Monday before Thanksgiving and ends on Giving Tuesday, the global day of giving. This year, that's November 20 - November 28, with 228 organizations in the Texas Panhandle participating in this community fundraising effort. 

“The Leaders Readers Network provides local educators and classrooms with brand new diverse and culturally relevant books, service projects, and read aloud experiences to get kids excited about reading. We’ve set this year’s Panhandle Gives goal to $35,000 to ensure our teachers have the support they need,” explained Executive Director, The Leaders Readers Network, Chris McGilvery.

TLRN operates with a unique model in supporting educators, student leaders, and families to increase access to diverse and culturally relevant books, assist teachers in promoting positive community support, and foster youth development through the co-led and designed programs of the Literacy Fellowship, Student Ambassador Project, and now Parent Ambassadors. With the TEA reporting a turnover rate of almost 300 teachers per year in AISD alone, only 57% of fourth graders testing at their reading level, and our lowest literacy rates since pre-COVID testing, our educators need this support now more than ever.  This giving season, we’re asking our community to support these efforts through our Read Together Now campaign.

You can support our campaign in two ways:

1. Make a donation now to support educators' classrooms with wrap-around literacy services. Your donation will provide both literacy support and resources to get kids excited about reading in school and at home like bringing our well-loved Literacy SuperHero Mascot into schools.

2. Pledge to Read Together Now with those you love. If we want kids to read, we need to lead by example and read together now! Join our campaign to participate in sharing the joys of reading.

1. Read with children in your family

2. Read with your friends or classmates

3. Read with your parents or grandparents

4. Volunteer to read at a local school or library

5. Read on your own for some wellness time and to rediscover the joys of reading!

Take a photo reading on your own, reading with a loved one, reading with a group of friends or family, or even reading with your students. Post on social media and tag @leadersreadersnetwork and use #ReadTogetherNow #AllTogetherNow and #PanhandleGives2023

We can’t wait to count you among our supporters and see how you choose to Read Together Now!