Ashley Dearinger - I Would Rather Be Reading 2026

I believe every child deserves more than the opportunity to learn to read. They deserve to feel seen, supported, and confident enough to believe in what is possible for their future.

I Would Rather Be Reading started because of what I saw firsthand as a teacher in Louisville. I worked with incredible children who were bright, creative, and full of potential, but many of them needed more support and more opportunities to strengthen their literacy skills. I did not set out to start a nonprofit. I simply wanted to help kids read.

What began as an effort to meet that need has grown into something much bigger than I ever imagined. Today, I have the privilege of serving as a cofounder and Co CEO of I Would Rather Be Reading, working alongside an incredible team, families, schools, community organizations, and supporters who believe that a child’s circumstances should never determine their potential.

For me, literacy has always been about more than words on a page. Reading builds confidence. It helps children communicate, explore their interests, succeed in school, and begin imagining the kind of future they want for themselves. But meaningful impact also requires relationships. Children need people who believe in them, communities that surround them, and opportunities that show them just how much they are capable of accomplishing.

A major part of my role is bringing people together around that mission. I love connecting individuals, businesses, schools, and community partners with opportunities to invest in Louisville’s children. Every relationship we build creates another possibility for a child or family we serve.

That is why Give for Good Louisville means so much to me. It is an opportunity for our entire community to come together and say that literacy matters, children matter, and their futures are worth investing in.

I hope you will join me in supporting I Would Rather Be Reading. Every gift helps us continue creating spaces where children can strengthen their literacy skills, build confidence, discover new possibilities, and know that there is a community standing behind them as they grow.