Reading Is Fundamental (RIF)
One of UGI’s community focus areas is dedicated to improving literacy. Our deepest commitment lies in our 35-year partnership with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF). The program provides more than 25,000 books to more than 12,000 first-grade students each school year.
UGI has distributed more than 1 million books to first graders throughout our service area. We actively encourage the participation of employees by promoting the programs internally and by enabling employees to volunteer their time (and ours) at schools, libraries and book distribution events.
Thirty-Five Years of Support
The 2025-2026 school year will mark 35 years of the UGI-Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) partnership, making UGI Utilities their longest partner. Since 1991, UGI employees have provided over 20,000 hours of volunteer service reading to children and helping with book distributions.
The Reading Wizard
UGI’s ageless and all-knowing “Reading Wizard” makes reading come alive through the power of his books. The Wizard makes guest appearances at book distributions in elementary schools throughout UGI’s service territory. He also has appeared at book fairs, libraries and similar literacy-oriented activities and has been greeted with excitement and enthusiasm by children, teachers and administrators.
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. Read More.
Recognition
UGI was honored with RIF’s 2011 Legacy of Literacy award for outstanding commitment to children’s literacy. UGI has also been recognized for its commitment to education improvement by the Points of Light Foundation, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, the American Gas Association, and state and local organizations.