Every story has the power to make a difference.
Join our literacy-based community service project and help families served by Ronald McDonald House Rochester through the joy of reading.
Kids Read for Kids is a community-wide literacy project that helps children discover the joy of reading while making a difference for families staying at Ronald McDonald House Rochester.
More than a summer reading program, Kids Read for Kids empowers children to use their love of reading to help families with seriously ill or injured children. By combining literacy with service, kids discover that even small acts can make a big difference.
Young readers create their own fundraising pages, read what they love, and invite family and friends to support their reading adventure. Every donation helps Ronald McDonald House Rochester provide comfort, care, meals, and support for families with seriously ill or injured children receiving medical care in our community.
Whether your child is an avid reader or just discovering the joy of books, Kids Read for Kids is a meaningful way to build lifelong reading habits while learning that even kids can make a real difference in their community through service.
Participate from home, with grandparents, at the library, on vacation, or wherever your reading adventure takes you. Every reader belongs, and every story has the power to make a difference.
Everything you need to participate in Kids Read for Kids—all in one place!
Our free Family Toolkit was created to help families get started, stay motivated, and make the most of Kids Read for Kids.
Inside you’ll find:
⬇️ Download the Kids Read for Kids Family Toolkit
Kids Read for Kids combines literacy, kindness, and community service in one meaningful family experience.
It’s an opportunity to:
When a child is seriously ill or injured, families shouldn’t have to worry about where they’ll sleep, how they’ll afford meals, or how far they have to travel.
Ronald McDonald House Rochester provides a home away from home for families receiving medical care in our community. Last year, we provided nearly 10,000 nights of free lodging, helping families save more than $2.6 million in lodging and meal costs so they could focus on what matters most—their child’s health and healing.
Because when a child is in the hospital, family stays, and we stay with them.
❤️ Explore the impact you’ll help make.
Participants who raise $250 or more during Kids Read for Kids will be entered into a drawing for the opportunity to become the 2026 Kids Read for Kids Hero.
The selected participant will be offered the chance to be celebrated during Bee A Hero Day, Ronald McDonald House Rochester’s annual day of giving, broadcast on television and radio.
No. Family and friends make a one-time donation of any amount to encourage and celebrate your reader’s journey. Readers are welcome to track pages or minutes for fun, but donations are not tied to reading totals.
Everything! Picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, audiobooks, bedtime stories, and family read-alouds all count.
Kids Read for Kids is designed for young readers, but we are happy to accept readers of any age, especially avid readers who are kids at heart. ❤️
No! Every reader is welcome. While fundraising helps support Ronald McDonald House Rochester, the most important thing is discovering the joy of reading and making a difference together.
Join young readers across our community as we turn the joy of reading into hope for families served by Ronald McDonald House Rochester.
Have questions about Kids Read for Kids, sponsorship opportunities, or getting involved? We’d love to hear from you.
