Our Commitment to Richmond’s Children
For more than a century, the Kiwanis Club of Richmond has stood beside Richmond’s young people. Today, our strongest partnerships are with Richmond Public Schools—where we show up week after week to support students, encourage educators, and strengthen the learning environments children depend on.
We don’t just donate. We volunteer, mentor, read, build, and advocate. Our members are a steady presence in the lives of students who benefit from consistent, caring adults.
Deep Partnerships with RPS Schools
Kiwanis volunteers are active inside classrooms, hallways, libraries, and schoolyards across the city. Our work is hands‑on and relationship‑driven:
Reading & Literacy Support Members read one‑on‑one with students, help build reading confidence, and support teachers during literacy blocks. These small moments—listening, encouraging, celebrating progress—make a measurable difference in early reading success.
Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Volunteers assist with homework help, small‑group instruction, and skill‑building activities that reinforce what students are learning in class.
Mentoring & Positive Role Models Many students benefit simply from having another adult who believes in them. Kiwanis members provide encouragement, consistency, and connection.
School Beautification & Campus Support From painting and landscaping to organizing supplies and supporting school events, we help create welcoming spaces where students feel valued.
Teacher Support & Appreciation We know that strong schools depend on strong educators. Kiwanis provides volunteer help, classroom resources, and appreciation efforts that lift morale and lighten the load.
Our goal is simple: to help every child feel seen, supported, and capable of success.
The Carver Literacy Project
Strong reading skills open every door a child will walk through in school and in life. At George W. Carver Elementary School, many students need additional, targeted support to build those foundational skills. The Kiwanis Club of Richmond created the Carver Literacy Project to meet that need directly.
Through the Richmond Kiwanis Foundation—and with the generosity of our members and community partners—we have raised more than $20,000 to fund a dedicated literacy specialist at Carver. This specialist provides direct, small‑group and one‑on‑one literacy instruction to students who need the most support.
This investment ensures that:
Students receive evidence‑based reading intervention from a trained literacy professional
Instruction is consistent, individualized, and aligned with classroom goals
Children who are behind in reading get the focused time and expert attention they need to catch up
Teachers have a skilled partner who can help address learning gaps and strengthen overall literacy outcomes
This is not a general donation. It is a targeted, high‑impact investment in the person who sits beside a child, listens to them read, teaches decoding strategies, builds confidence, and helps them take the next step forward.
Every contribution to the Carver Literacy Project directly supports real instructional time with a real literacy specialist—and that time changes lives.
Why This Work Matters
When volunteers show up consistently, children notice. When schools have partners they can rely on, the entire community benefits. And when we invest in literacy, we invest in every child’s ability to learn, grow, and thrive.
Kiwanis is proud to stand with Richmond’s students—and we invite you to stand with us.
Help Us Strengthen Literacy in Richmond
Your gift to the Carver Literacy Project fuels the work our volunteers do every week. It puts books in children’s hands, supports teachers, and helps build a stronger future for Richmond’s young people.
Together, we can ensure every child has the tools to succeed.