Celebrating 10 years of Reading Day with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas

Something good is happening across North Texas on Friday. This year, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas is celebrating ten years of their Reading Day. It's a time when community volunteers go into classrooms in several counties across North Texas to read select titles to elementary school children.

"Kids see that community members really care about them. They're invested in them, and they love reading," Susan Hoff, United Way Chief Strategy & Impact Officer, said.

According to the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, through United Way Reading Day presented by Atmos Energy, more than 13,000 pre-kindergarten and elementary students across 40 campuses and 11 school districts will experience the joy of storytelling—and the spark that reading can ignite in a child’s future. 

"If the kids think it's important that they have a love of reading, that helps them through life. This combines two things. This is making memories for these kids, knowing that more than just their teachers are rooting for them, and then the volunteers love it too," Hoff said.

Five members of the Roger Staubach family will serve as Reading Day ambassadors for the 2026 event. Volunteer slots are full for this year's Reading Day, but there are several other ways to get involved.