Our Mission & History

Our Mission

Through books, EWDC helps children build the skills needed to thrive at school, at home, and in life.

Reading is fundamental to a child’s success in the classroom and in life. But it isn’t the only skill that matters. For children to truly thrive, they must also be confident in their potential and have the tools needed to navigate life’s obstacles. Unfortunately, too many children aren't getting the support they need to build these interconnected skills, with disparities falling along racial and economic lines. That's where EWDC comes in.

Since 1995, EWDC's programs have helped children develop the foundational skills needed to reach their potential. EWDC programs strengthen literacy skills, build social-emotional competencies, and develop a love of reading and learning—all key indicators of future success in the classroom and beyond.

Our History

In 1995, a bipartisan group of Senators and Senate staff, led by Senator James Jeffords (R-VT) and Senator Paul Simon (D-IL), began volunteering their time to read with elementary school students at a public elementary school just steps from the Capitol Building.

Modeled after a similar effort in New York City, Senators Jeffords and Simon believed that this quality time reading together would help children develop critical skills needed to support academic and social growth.

Based on the success of those early reading sessions, the program grew into what is now Everybody Wins DC, a non-profit serving children and families across the region through shared reading.