UGI Celebrates Read Across America Week

The National Education Association’s Read Across America Week (March 3-7) is the nation’s largest celebration of reading. Through our partnership with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), UGI Utilities is proud to provide greater access to books to students across our service territory. UGI employees participate in the partnership by volunteering their time at schools and libraries to read aloud and distribute books to students. During Read Across America Week, schools across our service territory hold special programming to instill a joy of reading in their students.

At Lebanon School District, each of their elementary schools will hold a UGI-RIF book distribution throughout the week. Employees will visit the elementary schools to read aloud and distribute books to students. The Reading Wizard, a UGI-created mascot for the program, will also be in attendance! Lebanon School District has been part of the RIF-UGI Utilities partnership since its inception in 1991. During the 34-year partnership, nearly 42,000 books have been distributed to approximately 16,000 students.

“The UGI-RIF program is so important to the students of Lebanon School District because we are giving them access to books. By doing this, we not only promote literacy but also instill a sense of ownership over their reading materials. When students can choose their own books, they are more likely to engage with the content and develop a lifelong passion for reading,” says Marsha Brown, who is a Literacy Coach for Lebanon School District. “One of my favorite aspects of this initiative is its commitment to getting books into the hands of children. There is something truly special about witnessing the excitement on a child’s face when they receive a book that they can call their own!”

In addition to a number of employee volunteer opportunities during Read Across America Week, UGI Utilities is also sponsoring literacy kits to be delivered to 1,800 students at schools throughout our service territory.

Each kit includes three books, bookmarks, and activity sheets inside a RIF-UGI branded tote bag. Employees will work to assemble the literacy kits and drop the completed kits off at nearby schools to be distributed in conjunction with Read Across America Week.

UGI Utilities is proud to partner with Reading Is Fundamental to inspire a love of reading in students across our service territory!

Follow UGI Utilities on Facebook (@UGIUtilities), Twitter (@UGI_Utilities), and Instagram (@ugiutilities) or visit https://www.ugi.com/community-programs to learn more about how UGI is supporting literacy in the community.