About

Our Mission

To provide reading mentors to elevate early childhood literacy, creating a bright future for our community.

Our Vision

Every child in SW Washington is reading at grade level.

Our Motto

Elevate. Encourage. Inspire. Impact.

We strive to elevate early childhood literacy, encourage community involvement, and inspire children with self confidence so that we can positively impact a child’s life and the welfare of our community through literacy.

How We Started

In early 2018, Jerry Romano and Richard Brosius were inspired by their friend Jeff Martin, an activist and filmmaker dedicated to early childhood literacy. Jeff's discussions about the literacy crisis in America prompted Jerry and Richard to take action in Clark County.

They founded the Plow Boys Foundation, engaging community business leaders in the collaborative initiative "Let’s Work to Give." Guided by Jerry's philosophy of giving back, they raised funds for the impactful movie "SENTENCED," aiming to raise national awareness about illiteracy and its consequences. By 2022, Read Northwest mobilized volunteer Reading Mentors to support Clark County schools in ensuring every child reads at their grade level.

Our Program

We recruit volunteers in our community and train them to become Reading Mentors to youth (K-3rd grade) in Clark County. Volunteers meet weekly and consistently to provide 1:1 reading mentorship to youth who are not reading at grade level.

We partner with dedicated individuals, community and civic organizations, faith-based communities, and local businesses to provide weekly reading mentorship in dozens of Clark County schools and afterschool programs. We serve hundreds of students every week.

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"A child must first learn to read so they can read to learn. A child needs to know they are loved and that they belong. A child needs to understand the power of believing in themselves. A child needs hope."

- Richard Brosius
Co-founder

the team