EWI is committed to promoting international literacy. In 1992, the EWI membership selected literacy as its philanthropic focus and since 1999 has held an annual International Reading Rally. EWI chapters across North America have enlisted the aid of corporations, writers, teachers, and many others to promote reading and writing opportunities to children.

Reading Rally events are one of the ways EWI promotes literacy in the community. Throughout the years Reading Rally events have made a difference for more than 17,000 children across the country.

In 2005, Reading Rally became a part of the Leadership Conference & Annual Meeting (LCAM) experience. Academy of Leadership Alumni participants were invited to visit a local Boys & Girls Club in Salt Lake City where a new reading room had been decorated and stocked by EWI representatives and firms.

EWI Reading Rally
Reading Rally Partnerships are an excellent way get involved in the community and gain publicity since the Reading Rally often attracts television and newspaper coverage. The "Reading Rally Partnership Levels pdf" outlines the various opportunities available. All contributors are recognized and publicized.

We sincerely hope that you will catch EWI's spirit of promoting literacy through the EWI Reading Rally initiative! Support from partnerships helps us create heartwarming literacy events year after year.

Reading Rally Tool-kit pdf. Filled with Reading Rally ideas, book labels Word doc and more, the Reading Rally Tool-kit is designed to make your Reading Rally a success!

Reading Rally Facts

  • Chapter Reading Rallies are held during the month of October.
  • EWI Chapters plan and implement their own unique Reading Rally events that range from community read-ins and book donations to major events involving celebrities, story characters and the creation of reading rooms.
  • The goal of the Reading Rallies is to bring the gift of reading to all children and to demonstrate an excitement for reading through Chapter and community volunteers.
  • Each year, nearly 700 volunteers devote time, hard work and funds to make their EWI Reading Rally events successful.
  • Sponsorship at the Chapter level totals more than $20,000 for books, school supplies, food, crafts, personal products and more.
  • EWI partners with Scholastic, Inc. who provides Chapters with "Scholastic Tool Kits". Each year, Scholastic donates hundreds of books.
  • Qwest Foundation, Random House Publishing and Ingram Book Group in Nashville also donate books to the Reading Rally effort.
  • iDEX Creative Marketing developed the EWI Reading Rally T-shirt design and slogan, "Be a Leader - Be a Reader." Shirts are given to children across the country who participates in EWI Reading Rally events.
  • The Richmond Chapter conducts a Reading Rally with The Boys and Girls Club of Metro Richmond, specifically the Southside Unit, providing books, craft products (crayons, ruler, colored paper, etc.) to help inspire children from a disadvantaged background.

2011 Reading Rally Event a huge success

The Rally was held at the Southside, Bainbridge Boys and Girls Club of Metro Richmond (BGCMR) on Saturday, October 8th. The weather was beautiful, the volunteers were plentiful and most importantly, the children had a wonderful time! This year's Reading Rally partnered with the Badges for Baseball program, rallying more than sixty children attendees and making for a great partnership for this annual EWI Richmond Event.

Badges for Baseball is a part of the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation's national programs that bring together at-risk youth and law enforcement in a positive setting. As Todd Elliott, the Area Director of the BGCMR stated, "it is important for the Foundation and the BGCMR to provide youth an opportunity to participate in life lessons like; character building, self-esteem, and healthy choices (to name a few), in their quest for pro-social development. The day that EWI participated with the BGCMR and the badges program was right on target. The topic of the day was Communication and certainly Literacy plays a huge role in being a good listener, solid communicator, and learning to express one's self."