Reading is FUNdamental Pittsburgh

This Juneteenth, we pause to honor a day that reshaped the course of American history and continues to shape our future. On June 19, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Texas finally received word of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. That moment, and the long wait before it, reminds us that freedom is not given; it is fought for, proclaimed, and passed down.

The Juneteenth flag, with its star bursting at the horizon between red and blue, captures that spirit perfectly: a new star, a new people, a new day always reaching forward.

As we celebrate today, we invite you to explore books that center Black freedom, resilience, and joy — stories that don't just record history, but help us understand where we are and where we're still called to go.

Happy ! 🌟✊🏾

Yesterday we celebrated National Kids Day—because big dreams start with small readers. 📚❤️

This Pride Month, we remember why access to inclusive, meaningful books matters and how stories help build a lifelong love of reading.
Through stories that uplift and celebrate diverse identities and experiences, children find acceptance, connection, and joy in reading. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

As we reflect on AAPI Heritage Month, we’re grateful for the stories by AAPI authors and illustrators that offer children opportunities to explore identity, empathy, and creativity.
From vibrant illustrations to powerful words, titles like these give children the opportunity to learn about different cultures while building confidence as readers.

A huge thanks to all of the volunteers from the American Eagle Outfitters for packing summer reading bags with us as part of their 2026 Community Day! We are grateful to the volunteers who packed over 200 summer reading packages for our mentees - each contained 6 self-selected books so that our Reading Buddies have books they'll love to read over the summer - and saved us dozens of hours of work.

We had a blast partnering with American Eagle and Pittsburgh Cares on this project - because as our summer reading bags say, ""Summer Reading is Cool!""

Today, our second grade students had the pleasure of meeting a sweet pup named Onyx. Onyx is a service dog that spreads joy and love to local cancer patients. Thank you RIF for this amazing opportunity. ❤️ Reading is FUNdamental Pittsburgh

Can you believe it! Our Storymobile and Everybody Wins! programs have been at RIF Pittsburgh for 15 years! Last week, we gathered with mentors, teachers, and other amazing supporters to honor this milestone and the impact these programs have made in the lives of so many young readers.
✨ We couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you who has helped drive our mission forward. Soon we'll be celebrating 45 years of RIF Pittsburgh! That's 45 years of stories, smiles, and success—and many more to come!

This AAPI Heritage Month, Reading is FUNdamental Pittsburgh celebrates the authors, illustrators, and storytellers whose voices enrich children’s literature and spark curiosity in young readers. Representation matters and so does access to books that reflect our shared and diverse world. 📖✨
This month and always, we’re proud to support literacy that opens minds and honors every story.

Thank you so much for joining our celebration!