Philly Reading Coaches (PRC), part of Philadelphia’s Out of School Time Initiative, helps children grow more comfortable with reading by pairing them with volunteers for fun, one-on-one reading sessions once a week. Each child also receives 25 free books to take home and continue discovering the joys of reading.

Volunteers and students alike are enjoying the program:

Do you want to support the city’s efforts to have more children reading on grade level by fourth grade? Become a Philadelphia Reading Coach!

Reading sessions take place after school between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. in several schools, recreation centers, Police Athletic League (PAL), Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Housing Authority, and Project HOME sites all across the city.

Check out our site map for a full listing of Philly Reading Coaches sites!

Listed below are sites with immediate need for volunteers:

In Kensington

McVeigh Recreation Center
400-64 Ontario Street, 19134

Police Athletic League: 25th District 
3150 N Mascher Street, 19133

 

In the Northeast

Laura H. Carnell Elementary School
1100 Devereaux Avenue, 19111

McIlvain Playground
5200 Penn Street, 19124

In Southwest Philly 

Police Athletic League: Southwest
5900 Elmwood Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143

In West Philly 

Christy Recreation Center
728 S 55th Street, 19143

Call 215-686-0317 or email PRC@phila.gov with questions on how to start volunteering!

Sign up to be a Philly Reading Coach today!
Are you interested in helping a child gain reading confidence and skills? Philly Reading Coaches is looking for volunteers to read with the city’s students for one hour a week.