Words Alive has been thrilled to work with EY over the last year and we’re excited to recognize the company as our Corporate Partner of the Year!
EY first contacted us in 2020 as they were looking for a meaningful service project to offer their employees for their national service week. Our Page Turners Program ended up being the perfect fit! Page Turners is a group of more than 1,200 volunteers who help us read and review potential books to add to the official Words Alive Curriculum. As they are reviewing the book, volunteers answer questions such as: “What is the author’s message?” “Does this novel address issues of racial justice?” “Did this book inspire you to read more?” All of these answers help us determine if this is a good book for Words Alive students and families in particular.
During their national service week, more than 230 employees from 30 states submitted more than 300 Page Turners book reviews. One of the participants was so inspired by the opportunity – and the book she read – that she introduced Words Alive to EY volunteers in Canada. Together, the North American EY community helped Words Alive read more than 32,300 pages in search of the best, most engaging titles!
Since Page Turners launched in January 2020, we’ve experienced huge growth in the program, thanks in large part to EY and the 230 employees who stepped up to help. By taking the time to submit thoughtful reviews, Page Turners allow us to be confident that the books in our programming are relatable and interesting to our students – an intentional aspect of our programs that supports students on their journey to increased self-expression and identifying as a reader.
We are so thankful to EY for being an incredible partner to Words Alive over the past year, and for supporting our organization as the Presenting Sponsor of our 2021 Volunteer Appreciation Event. We can’t wat to see what the future holds for our partnership with EY!