- Book Harvest
- 8 hours ago
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The Leon Levine Foundation donates $10M to advance early literacy in underserved NC communities
by: Bailey Striepling
Posted: Feb 4, 2026 / 03:53 PM EST
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Thousands of families in North Carolina’s most economically distressed counties will soon have more access to books and literacy supports through $10 million in two new grants from The Leon Levine Foundation.
The multi-year investments will expand the work of three nonprofit partners: Reach Out and Read North Carolina, Book Harvest, and North Carolina Partnership for Children.
The grants aim to bring proven early literacy programs to families in dozens of underserved communities and put more North Carolina children on the path to kindergarten readiness.
“We believe every child can arrive at kindergarten ready to excel when they have the right tools and support,” Tom Lawrence, president and CEO of The Leon Levine Foundation, said. “We know that quality early childhood experiences are the building blocks of opportunity. By strengthening the bond between parent and child through reading, we are fostering the cognitive and emotional development essential for a lifetime of success and self-sufficiency.”