May 16, 2025 Reading in the Park: Five Years of Stories and Smiles This past week, we proudly marked our fifth annual Reading in the Park event in partnership with Neuberger Berman. What began as a rainy day in New York quickly turned into an engaging afternoon filled with learning and connection. Though the weather kept us indoors, the spirit of the day remained as bright as ever. Each year, this event gives our K–5 Achievers the opportunity to build reading skills and confidence through meaningful interactions with volunteer reading buddies. Our longstanding collaboration with Neuberger Berman makes this possible, and this year’s event continued to reflect their dedication to our Achievers and their development. With reading pods set up indoors, Neuberger Berman volunteers were matched with eager Achievers, diving into a carefully chosen selection of books that reflected themes of self-love, perseverance, identity, and imagination. This year’s stories included The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, Hair Love by Matthew Cherry, Jayden’s Impossible Garden by Mélina Mangal, Areli Is a Dreamer by Areli Morales, The Girl Who Makes a Million Mistakes by Brenda Li, and It’s OK to be Different by Sharon Purtill. Together, the pairs read aloud, explored new vocabulary, and discussed each story’s message. After more than an hour of reading together, Achievers were excited to participate in a short round of reading comprehension questions. With each thoughtful answer, they earned small prizes like stickers, whistles, and fidget spinners. Along with proud smiles and a bit of friendly competition, it was a moment that showed just how much the kids took away from the books—remembering details, themes, and key messages. These moments—of growth, joy, and meaningful engagement—are exactly what Reading in the Park is all about. We are deeply thankful to Neuberger Berman for their continued partnership and for championing the power of literacy in our community. Their commitment to our Achievers and their education continues to make a lasting impact, and we look forward to many more years of collaboration and story-sharing to come.