LPIE Read-A-Thon: Lafayette Students’ Race to Read

By Melina Galacatos and Audrey Parkin, Staff Writers

// To promote reading in the community, the Lafayette Partners in Education (LPIE) hosted its fourth Read-a-Thon starting on Jan. 22 and lasting until Feb. 4. 

   The competition required participants to read 40 minutes daily and involved a raffle that awarded prizes to the top readers of each grade level. This annual fundraiser encourages local students to read while raising money for the Lafayette public schools. 

   “They started [the read-a-thon] in fall of 2020 because everyone was in remote learning, and it was a way to pull people together. [Since] kids were at home, [it encouraged them to continue] reading, especially with fears that younger children will lose their newly acquired reading ability,” Acalanes Librarian Barbara Burkhalter said.

   Students who participated tracked the time they spent reading and the number of pages read. The participants then collect money from family members or friends to sponsor their reading and contribute to LPIE’s cause. 

   “A grandparent or neighbor or whoever will pledge [to pay a dollar a page], or they might just want to do a set amount,” Burkhalter said. 

   In addition to spreading enthusiasm for reading, LPIE hopes to raise money to support the local public schools.

   “[It’s a Fundraiser that] LPIE started during the pandemic that was originally [for] the elementary schools and the middle school. They were pleasantly surprised at how involved everyone got, and they raised a nice bit of money that year,” Burkhalter said. 

   Raising money for the local schools through fundraisers like the read-a-thon reflects LPIE’s mission of maintaining youth engagement with learning.

   “[Our biggest goal is] to get kids reading. It’s really much more about the minutes read than about the dollars raised although that’s critical in supporting literacy. It’s really about trying to get kids excited about reading because we know how important [reading] is in furthering education and goals in that regard,” Co-Chair of the LPIE read-a-thon Kate Scharf said. 

   The read-a-thon catalyzes encouraging and bringing awareness to the many benefits of reading for community members.

   “I think reading is important because it can help you understand other’s perspectives and gain empathy. I also think it is just a fun hobby and form of entertainment,” sophomore and Co-Chair of the Acalanes Book Club Lauren Foster said. 

    The read-a-thon ultimately gives back to the Acalanes community by providing incentives for reading and acquiring funds to improve the school system.

   “I think [the read-a-thon] does two things at Acalanes. One: [I think] the encouragement around reading, not just for [a student’s] English or history class, but reading for enjoyment is a really positive message,” Leadership, Human Social Development, and Ethnic Studies teacher Katherine Walton said, “[Two: it serves] as a continual reminder of how much LPIE funds at Acalanes and [that] without LPIE and the generous donations of people and businesses from our community, Acalanes would look a lot different.”