Every Child Can Read Celebrates Successful 2025 Wayne County Reads: The Wild Robot

Richmond, Ind. — August 29, 2025
 
Every Child Can Read (ECCR) is celebrating the conclusion of Wayne County Reads: The Wild Robot, a community-wide reading initiative that brought families together to share a story, spark conversations, and strengthen literacy across Wayne County.

​The program was announced at the Community Scholastic Bookfair and officially kicked off April 28, wrapping up on August 1. The selected title, The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, was available in both English and Spanish.
 
Over 1,000 copies were distributed through county libraries and community partners, including Morrisson Reeves Library, Cambridge City Public Library, Centerville Public Library, Hagerstown Jefferson Township Library, Dublin Public Library, and Two Sisters Books & More.
 
“Wayne County Reads is about more than reading a book together. It’s about building connections between families, neighbors, and communities through the power of story,” said Patti Peterson, Executive Director of Every Child Can Read. “We are thrilled to see so many families dive into Roz’s adventure and explore its lessons about resilience, nature, and community.”
 
The shared reading experience was made possible thanks to generous community support:
Title Sponsors: Brewer Broadcasting (Kicks96, 101.7 The Point, 95.3 The Legend); Rick & Debby Ahaus; Bader Services
Novel Sponsors: Reid Health Community Benefit
Chapter Sponsors: First Bank Richmond, DOT Foods, Blue Buffalo, Len and Jackie Vonderhaar, Beach Automotive
Character Sponsors: Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate, Contract Industrial Tooling (CIT), Jewison Family, Primex, Menasha
Literary Sponsors: Stegall-Berheide-Orr Funeral Home, Natco Credit Union, Doxpop Charitable Giving Fund, Stults Family Dentistry, Ryan’s Flooring Sales & Service Inc., VanVleet Insurance, Greens Fork Community Center
 
“We are grateful to our sponsors, county libraries, and community partners for making this program possible. Their support helps ensure that every child has access to stories that inspire curiosity, empathy, and imagination,” added Peterson.
 
Looking ahead, ECCR will announce the 2026 Wayne County Reads selection on social media. Families are encouraged to follow Every Child Can Read on Facebook to be the first to learn what the next community read will be.
 
About Every Child Can Read
Every Child Can Read, Inc. (ECCR) believes in opening a world of opportunities by growing a love of reading in young readers. ECCR is the Wayne County sponsor and host organization of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, provides after-school and summer tutoring programs, operates a summer bookmobile, maintains Little Free Libraries, and develops community partnerships. Every Child Can Read is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization