Building Literacy
Every Child, Every Family, Every Day
Every Child Can Read, Inc. (ECCR) believes in opening a world of opportunities by growing a love of reading in young readers.
Every Child Can Read, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization.
Our Programs
Children prepared to learn upon entering kindergarten is the focus of Every Child Can Read’s 0-5 year old programs. Studies show that the largest gain in a child’s brain development occurs in the first two years of life. By the age of five, the brain is nearly 90% grown. Children who don’t develop sufficient language skills in those first years are up to six times more likely to experience reading problems in school. Having access to books and being read to at an early age is crucial for educational success.
The goal of our 0-5 year old program is to increase the number of Wayne County children who enter school prepared to learn.
Reading at grade level by 3rd grade is an important benchmark for every child’s educational journey. Third grade reading is the crucial point when a child develops from learning to read to reading to learn. Ensuring Wayne County youth have the tools to achieve this benchmark successfully is the focus of Every Child Can Read’s 6-9 year old programs.
Every Child Can Read provides summer and school year opportunities to build literacy for this age group.
Recent News and Photos
Proud to be a partner with Starr Elementary School and Richmond UEA for this Reading Program! 📚🐾🕹️🏫
Want to make storytime more engaging? Check out these tips for reading aloud to your child!
#DollysLibrary #ReadingTips
#DollysLibrary #ReadingTips
ANNOUNCEMENT: The Richmond UEA is partnering with Starr Elementary School to launch the "Reading Richmond" pilot program, with support from Every Child Can Read and local downtown businesses!
Starr Elementary students will have the opportunity to earn rewards for reading based on criteria set by the school. By reaching their reading goals every six weeks, students will receive gift certificates redeemable at participating businesses, including Suzie’s Pizza, Ullery's Homemade Ice-Cream, Retro Rush Arcade LLC, and Comic Relief Comics.
This program encourages strong reading habits while connecting students with local Downtown Richmond businesses—turning reading into a fun, rewarding community experience.
Starr Elementary students will have the opportunity to earn rewards for reading based on criteria set by the school. By reaching their reading goals every six weeks, students will receive gift certificates redeemable at participating businesses, including Suzie’s Pizza, Ullery's Homemade Ice-Cream, Retro Rush Arcade LLC, and Comic Relief Comics.
This program encourages strong reading habits while connecting students with local Downtown Richmond businesses—turning reading into a fun, rewarding community experience.
Scholarships awarded last year totaled over $668,000! Thanks to incredible donors, these scholarships open doors to educational opportunities for students across our community. Scholarship applications for 2026 are now available and can be found here: https://loom.ly/pGTb6go
“We wanted to design a program that encouraged parents to read, put books into homes and provided tips for effective reading.”
– Rick Ahaus, Board Member and Founder