March 6 marked this year’s United Way Reading Day presented by Atmos Energy, a very special day that brought together nearly 1,000 volunteers across more than 700 classrooms for one simple, powerful purpose: to read. 

Thanks to our dedicated volunteers and supporters, more than 13,000 pre-kindergarten and elementary students across 40 campuses and 11 school districts experienced the joy of storytelling—and the spark that reading can ignite in a child’s future. 

Reading Day Drives Progress Toward Our Goals 

Reading at grade level by third grade is one of the strongest predictors of long-term academic success. When children reach this milestone, they are far more likely to graduate, pursue higher education and achieve economic mobility, which enables them to afford quality healthcare.  

As part of the Aspire United Volunteer Series presented by Texas Instruments, Reading Day mobilizes volunteers, corporate partners and civic leaders to promote early literacy—a cornerstone of our Aspire United 2030 goals, which focus on expanding access to education, income and health. 

Given the importance of early literacy, Reading Day is more than a volunteer opportunity. It is a strategic investment in the future of our region. 

This year’s Reading Day theme—the future and its endless possibilities—reinforced that message. Volunteers shared books centered on dreaming big, innovation, perseverance and imagining what comes next, encouraging students to see reading as the key that unlocks opportunity. 

As Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, shared, “As we kick off our second century of impact, Reading Day highlights the powerful role literacy plays in creating opportunity. Reading at grade level by third grade is a key milestone for student success. When our community comes together to share the joy of reading, we’re helping children build the skills and confidence they need to thrive.”

An Unforgettable Volunteer Experience 

For this year’s Reading Day volunteers, the event was fun and memorable, creating an impact for the students that they could see right away. 

Nicole shared that she’s passionate about early reading because she was a big reader when she was a kid, and she feels that it has helped her throughout her life. 

“It’s a great way to experience different cultures and things you might not experience yourself,” she said. “Books can give you a point of view that you might not have. Reading expands your empathy and your creativity—you can go to worlds that don’t even exist.”  

Nicole read Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs to classroom of third-graders, and she was impressed with how engaged they were with the story.  

“It was so fun. They were great listeners—we talked about what kinds of foods they might want to see fall from the sky,” she said. “We went through the book and then talked about their favorite characters, what happened in the book and what they thought might happen next, which was my favorite part. Kids are really creative, so you kind of get to see them run with that creativity that the book set up.” 

Another volunteer, Scottie, agreed that sharing her love of reading with the kids made her day. “Reading brings me joy and happiness. Today, it was great seeing the kids become engaged with the books we were reading. During the follow-up questions, they were excited to be able to provide their answers.” 

Community Leaders Come Together to Support Early Literacy 

This year, we were especially honored to welcome the Staubach family as Reading Day Ambassadors: Jennifer Staubach Gates, Michelle Staubach Grimes, Amy Staubach Mentgen, Stephanie Staubach Phillips and Jeff Staubach—children of Roger Staubach and Marianne Staubach—whose deep commitment to early literacy reflects a legacy of leadership that spans generations. 

“Our parents taught us that giving back isn’t just something you do—it’s part of who you are,” Amy Staubach Mentgen said. “United Way has always been close to our family’s heart because it brings people together to create real, measurable impact. Early literacy, especially, changes the trajectory of a child’s life. Serving as Reading Day Ambassadors and helping lead the 40th anniversary of the Tocqueville Society is incredibly meaningful to us. It’s an opportunity to honor the legacy our father and mother built—and to help ensure that the next generation of North Texans has every opportunity to thrive.” 

Reading Day 2026 also carries special meaning as we approach the 40th anniversary of the Ruth Sharp Altshuler Tocqueville Society. In early 2027, we will celebrate four decades of extraordinary leadership and impact. Continuing their parents’ legacy as steadfast Tocqueville members, all five Staubach siblings and their spouses will serve as co-chairs of the 40th Anniversary Celebration—a powerful symbol of multi-generational commitment to ensuring that North Texas is the best place to live, work and raise a family—for all.  

In addition to the Staubachs and nearly 1,000 volunteers, representatives from local lawmakers’ offices also joined us this year to read to local students—an indication of the significance of an event like Reading Day for the future of our community.  

A big thank you to the lawmakers and staff who showed up for North Texas during Reading Day:   

• U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson  

• U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey 

• Texas State Sen. Nathan Johnson  

• Texas State Sen. Royce West 

• Texas State Sen. Tan Parker  

• Texas House Rep. Terry Meza  

• Texas House Rep. Rhetta Bowers  

• Texas House Rep. Cassandra Garica Hernandez 

Join Us in Support of Early Literacy 

As we launch into our second century of impact, we are grateful to our volunteers and donors, and for families like the Staubachs. Your dedication toward early literacy, volunteerism and United Way continues to strengthen the fabric of our community. 

Of course, Reading Day is just one of the ways that the Live United movement works together to improve early literacy so all North Texas students can thrive. For example, our Once Upon a Month program delivers free children’s books to local families every month—because when youngsters have a home library of their own, they are much more likely to become strong readers. 

You can support early literacy all year long by making an investment in United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. Your gift can support programs like Once Upon a Month, which has distributed nearly 700,000 books across North Texas since its inception. Just $36 can provide a local child with a free book every month for one year. 

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