Washington, DC – March 8, 2026– Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) today announced that Bayou View Elementary School has been selected as one of 100 national winners of its “Rally to Read 100” sweepstakes, a six-month initiative designed to ignite a love of reading for students in grades K- 5 across the country. As one of 100 national awardees, Bayou View Elementary School will receive 100 books curated to inspire its young readers.
The 100 new books will be added to Bayou View Elementary’s classroom libraries and media center, expanding access to engaging titles for more than 700 students.
The sweepstakes giveaway is a part of Reading Is Fundamental’s “Rally to Read 100” campaign, designed to engage students in the joy of reading. Students, educators, and families were invited to take on the fun challenge of reading 100 books over the span of six months by the end of National Reading Month in March. The “Rally to Read 100” campaign provided accompanying resources at RallytoRead.org including monthly themes and book lists, virtual read-alouds with popular authors, and activity packets.
“At Reading Is Fundamental, we believe every child deserves access to books that spark curiosity and confidence,” said Alicia Levi, President and CEO of RIF. “As we celebrate 60 years of inspiring young readers, we are proud to provide 10,000 books in total prizes to help schools across the country build vibrant, diverse libraries that support student success.”
The “Rally to Read 100” sweepstakes welcomed K-5 educators to submit their schools for the chance to win 100 new books generously donated by Barnes & Noble to help build their libraries and classrooms with a range of stories, characters, and authors. Selected at random from thousands of entries, 100 applicants were chosen including Bayou View Elementary School. According to national assessments, many children continue to struggle with reading proficiency, making access to high-quality books more important than ever.
"Receiving these 100 books from Reading Is Fundamental is more than just an addition to our shelves; it is an investment in the dreams of our children at BVE. As a Reading Coach and Reading teacher, there is no greater joy than seeing a student’s eyes light up when they find that one perfect book that turns a reluctant reader into a lifelong explorer. Literacy is the heartbeat of our community, providing our students with the wings to soar beyond their current horizons. We plan to get these stories directly into the hands of our students through classroom book tastings and through our AR Program. We are incredibly grateful, and our students are very excited.”
— Tammy Parker, BVE Reading Coach and 5th Grade Reading Teacher
About Reading Is Fundamental:
Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is committed to creating a nation of lifelong readers by inspiring the joy of reading among all children, putting them on the path to becoming skilled readers. We provide free, high-quality content to engage children, educators, families, and literacy advocates in the solution to the U.S. literacy crisis—so that every child has the fundamentals for success. Founded in 1966 and celebrating 60 years of impact in 2026, RIF has provided 430 million books and reading resources to 237 million children, impacting generations of children. Explore our results and learn more about partnering with us at www.RIF.org.
Contacts:
Jodi Rubin, Reading Is Fundamental
JRubin@RIF.org
Tess S. O’Keefe Lawrence, BVE Principal
tess.lawrence@gulfportschools.org