Everybody Wins!

Founded in New York City in 1991, Everybody Wins! is a not-for-profit children's literacy and mentoring organization dedicated to encouraging positive attitudes about reading in elementary school children. The program was launched in 1995 in Washington, D.C., by the U.S. Senate, headed by retired Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont. It has since been established in New Orleans, Los Angeles, Topeka, and Dallas. Everybody Wins! Power Lunch Program is also a part of the Boston Partners in Education Program in Boston.

Everybody Wins! consists of two main programs designed to increase literacy skills and a life-long love of reading and learning: Power Lunch, and Parent Programs.

Power Lunch

The crux of Everybody Wins! is the Power Lunch - a program that pairs elementary school children with reading mentors from the public and private sectors. Power Lunch volunteers spend one hour a week at schools with their student partners, with the goal of creating life-long readers. The pairs share good books and conversations about books during the lunch hour. This provides children with positive role models and fosters a love of reading at an early age. CVPS has provided financial support and assistance to the program in Vermont. Dozens of CVPS employees have served as volunteers, each paired with a child at the Rutland Intermediate School.

If you would like more information about Everybody Wins! please call Marianne Lynch at 802-229-2665 or e-mail her at marianne@everybodywinsvermont.org.