Writers Who Run - Literacy Partners


​​We are passionate about reading and hope for worldwide literacy. Here are a few shocking statistics.
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  • 1 in 4 children in America grow up without learning how to read.
  • Over 70% of America's inmates cannot read above a 4th grade level.
  • 2/3 of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare.
  • Students who don't read proficiently by the 3rd grade are 4 times likelier to drop out of school.
  • 63 million US citizens over 16 can only read at a 5th grade level or lower.
  • Adult low literacy can be connected to almost every socio-economic issue in the US.
  • Children from low-income homes hear as many as 30 million fewer words than their more affluent peers.

2023 Literacy Sponsor


​For 2023, we partnered with Read 2 Succeed (R2S), an Asheville-based independent literacy nonprofit on a mission to help close the race-based opportunity gap through community-powered literacy programming. R2S reaches over 150 Pre-K to Elementary students every week through one-to-one tutoring, literacy trainings and workshops, family reading events, and more. Learn more at r2sasheville.org.

Past Literacy Sponsors


​2023​ Literacy Partner:
Read 2 Succeed Asheville/Buncombe (NC)
We collected OVER 300 culturally diverse books featuring Black main characters and/or written by Black authors! These books were given to children and families in the Asheville/Buncombe area.

2020, 2021, 2022: ​
​WE DID NOT HOLD THE RACE DURING THESE YEARS.

2019 Literacy Partners:
Rabun County Schools (GA)
Ferst Readers (GA)

2018 Literacy Partner:
Burke County Literacy Council (NC)
We collected over 200 books! These books were placed in doctor's offices, pediatrician offices, and the waiting rooms of Health Department and Social Services buildings as well as in the homes of lower-income families.
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2017 Literacy Partner: 
McDowell County School System (NC)
We collected 21 books, including an original signed author copy of one book and $50 in donations.

2016 Literacy Partner:
Greenville Literacy Association (SC)
The books we collected were donated to GLA for local families and also for their annual fundraiser, "The Really Good, Really Big, Really Cheap Book Sale".
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2016 Literacy Partner, Greenville Literacy Association