Greentrike announces a partnership with local nonprofit Peace Works United for a collaborative effort to raise funds in support of reading comprehension for children. The Read Well Challenge is a campaign that will support the Tacoma-George Sister City Committee with the goal of purchasing personalized books for 400 young readers in George, South Africa. The personalized books are designed specifically for each individual child to help promote reading comprehension for many South African children.

“We are very excited to support the Read Well Challenge and the youth leaders from Tacoma who are dedicating themselves to this cause,” exclaimed Fahren Johnson, strategic initiatives director of Greentrike. “Learning is at the heart of Greentrike’s core aligning with the goals of the Read Well Challenge to improve reading abilities for children,” Fahren added.

Funds raised in excess of the Read Well Challenge’s goal will be donated to Greentrike, the nonprofit organization that powers museums, programs, and initiatives honoring children, youth, and families in Pierce County.

Teiya Shimomura, playguide at the Children’s Museums of Tacoma and at JBLM said, “I am honored for the opportunity to be the campaign leader for team Greentrike! I really look forward to working alongside the other youth team leaders to raise donations that help support children with reading for meaning.”

Teiya and the youth leaders invite community participation:

  • Donate at least $20 to create a personalized book on com/readwell.
  • Promote reading in our community by posting a video or photo of a teen or adult reading a book to a child that focuses on messages of love, kindness, or peace to com/readwell.
  • Post videos and photos to social media using #ReadWell – ask others to do the same and to donate through com/readwell.
  • Most importantly, encourage three friends to join in the challenge.

Melannie Denise Cunningham, Founder & President of Peace Works United and a member of the Tacoma-George Sister City Committee said, “We have partnered with the South Africa based non-governmental organization Womb to Tomb for more than 15 years to support the wellbeing of children and families in George.” She added, “They have asked us for help with this initiative and we know that helping to improve literacy for children anywhere in the world is the ‘good trouble’ we want to stir up.”

City of Tacoma Sister City Committee has recognized George, South Africa as a sister city since 1997. The city of Tacoma has 14 sister cities which have aspects similar or complementary to Tacoma’s character. The Tacoma Sister City Committee is part of an international program created in 1956. Examples of activities supported by Tacoma’s Sister City Committee include student sports exchanges, performing arts festivals, and literacy projects.