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Together, We can Help Improve K-4th Graders' Reading Skills 

BE THE DIFFERENCE ™ Today

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Mentor with H.U.G.

Join us as we encourage young minds to discover the joys of reading. With flexible, online mentorship, it's easy to make a difference from home.

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Become a H.U.G. School

Register your school for the H.U.G. reading program to ensure that students receive tailored support to enhance their literacy skills. 

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Donate

Donations to H.U.G. directly impacts students' literacy development, providing them with the resources and support needed to excel in reading. 

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Stay Updated on All Things H.U.G.!

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Our Mission

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The Help Us Grow, Foundation, Inc. (H.U.G.) strives to promote social equality and education for all students allowing them to achieve grade level reading by completion of fourth grade.

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H.U.G. incorporates character development and confidence building components to help struggling readers become confident grade level readers, thus improving their life's trajectory.

Thank You to Our Major Donors and Supporters!

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Supporting Our Students

Evidence-Based Model Creates More Resilient Students

H.U.G. uses curriculum with 30 years of research from the University of North Carolina that is used nationwide for reading intervention. 

1:1 Student-to-Mentor Ratio Builds Skills and Character

Our H.U.G. reading mentors help directly address this highly documented need faced by today's educators & future workforce.

Students and Mentors Reap Positive Benefits

Students show increased engagement and positive behavior, while reading mentors feel honored and valued to share their wisdom.

Help us Be the Difference in a Student's Life Today!

Regardless of your status as an individual, a church or community organization, or a company with workforce or HR objectives, embracing our mission through either becoming a reading mentor or donating today offers benefits for individuals and communities as a whole.

Our Vision

To grow students into confident, resilient, successful, adults with good social skills and the ability to learn independently. Thereby:

  • Raising the U.S. national 4th-grade average reading level

  • Enabling students to BE THE DIFFERENCE™ to themselves, their family, and their community

  • Enhancing the employable workforce in the community through education

  • Reducing the pipeline to prison

 

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Ashley Byerley, Instructional Coach at Old Mills Elementary

The individualized program meets the needs of some of our most striving learners while also integrating social-emotional skills needed to achieve more and become productive citizens. Our students always look forward to the tutoring sessions and have grown over the last several years. 

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Brad Maudlin, Kroger Division Manager in Retail Operations 

The weekly reading development and word understanding of H.U.G. students is amazing! Being a H.U.G. volunteer for 3 years has been an exceptionally rewarding experience for me and I would highly recommend getting involved and “Making a Difference” for these wonderful children.

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Rylen W., Student at JB Atkinson Elementary

What I like about H.U.G. is I used to be kind of a bad reader and, once I joined this [the H.U.G. Reading Program], I got better at reading. I like reading now.

Testimonials

H.U.G. Schools

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