A Summer to Remember

Finally, Charlotte’s cool and colorful Fall seems to be right around the corner. At Promising Pages, we are also fully aware of the changing time of year as we say farewell to an incredibly productive summer and hello to an already jam packed fall! However, it would not be right to leave summer behind without recognizing the amazing team that made it all possible. 

Team Read 2013!

Starting in June, The Dale Earnhardt Foundation sponsored “Team Read 2013,” a group of 45 high school interns from 18 high schools across Charlotte. Throughout the summer this bright and energetic group of students hosted 120 literacy projects with community partners (Book Buddies with Male Leadership Academy, Crisis Assistance, Magic Book Parties with Y Readers and Freedom Schools, Back to School Bashes) as well as keeping the Warehouse in working order through sorting, cleaning, labeling and wrapping over 20,000 Books!

They prepped and hosted volunteers at our events in June and then marketed and staffed our Summer Book Sale in August. Even on their own time they kept up the hard work through serving on committees to further develop Promising Pages through social media, fundraising, holding neighborhood book drives, and simply generating ideas that will make a lasting impact on our organization.

One of 120 literacy events!

While our interns were teaching children how to love books, they were also learning. They were trained by UNCC literacy experts on how to encourage and read effectively with children, how to work as a team  on projects that took patience and endurance, and how to set goals knowing that the only way to grow is to try.

By mid August, just before our friends headed back to the classroom, we recognized them at a yummy awards dinner where we highlighted the achievements of our star interns. We proudly announced to the whole Team Read that they helped to bring in a total of 12,390 books to the Warehouse while, through requests from our community partners, we were able to see over 20,000 books leave our Warehouse and enter the hands of children.

End of the Summer Celebration

The Dale Earnhardt Foundation Team Read 2013 became the hands and feet of our organization this summer, quite literally. But they also became the heart behind our organization. There was so much joy in  getting to see them love their work, whether it was making friends with little ones at Crisis Assistance Ministry, having one on one reading time with kids at Book Parties, or simply bringing a smile to a student’s face by giving them a wrapped book. I can guarantee that there are children in Charlotte who will not forget their experience with a Team Read Member and have a greater love for reading because of it. We are sad to see them return to school but it is a privilege to know we had some of the most creative, passionate, and dedicated young leaders working with us this summer.

Working hard at the Warehouse!

We are so grateful for the time each one of them dedicated to this internship- with a combined total of 2,808 hours put in to Promising Pages projects! Team Read 2013 was such a success, they are featured in the Editor's Letter of the August issue of Society Charlotte Magazine. Society highlights some great pics of our Intern Orientation here: Society Magazine Editor's Letter

After taking a small “summer break” the past few weeks, everyone at at Promising Pages is re-energized and  geared  up for an exciting fall. We are welcoming aboard new interns and volunteer staff, expanding our Book Party programming to new elementary school partners, and prepping for our Fall Book Sale are only a few of the big things already in the works. We truly appreciate all of the hard work, donations, and good thoughts constantly sent our way from interns, volunteers, and the community. It is uplifting and encouraging and there are so many more fuller bookshelves and smiling faces in Charlotte because of it. Happy Fall!

Erma the Bookworm with new friends at Crisis Assistance!

Who wants some more books?

Erma got some new threads.  

"Who wants some more books," asked Erma the Bookworma?  "I do, I do" screamed a room full of excited children at Nations Ford Elementary School in Charlotte.  This was the scene at one of our Follow-up Book party this past month.


The Magic Book Party is the heart and soul of what we do at Promising Pages. These parties are where Erm and Erma the Bookworms enter a room and spread the power and magic of reading.  They use this opportunity to let children know they are already Luckier than the Luckiest, and if they read just a little bit everyday they can be anything they want to be when they grow up.

This boy was so excited to get a book in 3D. 

This summer we  partnered with 8 of the 12 Y-Readers programs. Y-Readers is an intensive reading curriculum put on by the YMCA, formerly known as the Starfish Program.   In May and June we hosted 8 signature Magic Book Parties at various Y-Readers sites. Once those were complete we started our follow-up parties. The follow-up parties are new to our curriculum. The goal is to reinforce the Magic of the Magic Book and the need to keep it activated by reading 10 minutes a day. The enthusiasm of the kids upon our return let us know that this reinforcement was well worth the extra effort.  This summer we gave more than 2,320 books away to Y-Readers during these Magic events.  Hopefully this will allow children to have a shelf full of books and not just one.

The Magic Book Parties and Follow-up parties were 19 of the 50 events made possible by our group of 22 summer "Ermiterns."  These high school students have blessed us with their presence all summer.  These interns come from several different high schools throughout the Charlotte area including Myers Park, Charlotte Country Day, Weddington,  Olympic High and Ardrey Kell High School. They have been more than willing to work with us every chance they got. Whether it has been in the warehouse organizing and wrapping books or in the classroom reading and inspiring our next generation of leaders; they have all been outstanding.  The Ermiterns have helped Promising Pages give extra special attention to each and every child. They make sure every child goes home realizing they are, indeed,  Luckier than the Luckiest, as our signature book suggests.

Erm spreading the power of the Magic Book.

Ermintern Madeline Huff 

We would like to give an extra big thank you to our high school Ermiterns. Without you we would not be able to make these Follow-up Book Parties as magical as they are. You guys rock!


Emma Baccellieri, Nupur Charyalu, Courtney Elliott, Allie Halter, Anne Gardner, Madeline Gasior, Madeline Huff, Sarah Hugh, Jackson Jones, Sara Kifle, Gracie Ghartey-Tagoe, Pooja Iyer, Zach Montgomery, Ali Ozmeral, Yoonha Shim, Mary Alex Staude, Sanjana Vattigunta, Madison Walls, Jeremy Williams, Justin Williams, Ally Wolf and Sarah Wyczawski

This girl went home with more books than she could carry.  

We would also like to offer a special thank you the following businesses for collecting books for us. Without you and many others we would not have the many books to hand out to these kids.

The Last Word
Earthfare
Healthy Home Market

Two of our rock star Ermiterns doing what they do best.  

Barnie and Shrek waiting to go to a new home.

- Mitchell Sharp