Budding Readers has ongoing partnerships with a variety of local and community programs. It does take a village to raise a child and Budding Readers is proud to be part of the “village”. Budding Readers, and the organizations we partner with, work together to improve the current life and future outcomes for the children they serve. These partnerships allow us to get books to an increased number of children, and our books allow agencies to provide an enhanced program for the children served.

These partnerships include:

  1. Working relationships with local libraries in the eight Ontario County communities we serve. You will find their library hours on their respective community pages.
  2. Working relationships with the school districts in the eight communities we serve, especially at the UPK, Kindergarten and First Grade levels. Budding Readers has given a new book to each UPK and Kindergarten child since 2013. The frequency increased in 2020. First Grade was added in 2023.
  3. The Family Visiting Area of Attica Correctional Facility became a partner in 2023 when we proudly provided books for children visiting family members at the Correctional Facility. Children are permitted to take them home if they desire.
  4. Attending Birthing Classes and gifting expectant parents a bundle of books to read with their new infant is a joy. We began a partner relationship with F. F. Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua in 2012. However, in-person classes stopped with COVID and hospitals have not returned to this format. Luckily, Ontario County Public Health invited us to come to the in-person birthing classes they began offering in 2023.
  5. Our relationship with Family Promise – Ontario County began in 2018. The Family Promise program works with homeless families helping them to secure employment and independent housing. Budding Readers provides a “bundle of books” for each child from birth to age 11 when the family “graduates” from the program and is in their own independent housing.
  6. A relationship with Healthy Families – Ontario, Yates, and Seneca Counties began in 2018. The Healthy Families program (part of Child & Family Resources) works with high-risk families to improve outcomes for the children. They work with families from birth using weekly home visits to teach positive parenting and interaction with their babies. Budding Readers provides books for families; the home educators do a wonderful job of teaching parents how to read with their babies!
  7. Flower City School #54 is part of the Rochester City School District. In 2024 Budding Readers “adopted” the school and will gift the children at School 54 the same books to take home that we provide for our 8 school districts in Ontario County.
  8. Keeping Our Promise is a comprehensive resettlement program based in Rochester, NY. It serves Afghan, Iraqi and Kurdish translators and other war support personnel who have fled those countries and settled in the U.S. Budding Readers has partnered with them since 2023 to provide books for the children and adults learning English.
  9. The relationship with the Kiwanis Club of Canandaigua began in 2023 when we supported their literacy initiative with books that were made available to children and families around Canandaigua. In addition, Budding Readers provides books for their annual Christmas party for needy children in Canandaigua.
  10. The relationship with the Kiwanis Club of Farmington-Victor began in 2018 when we first provided books the annual Christmas party that they hold for needy children. We have happily continued that activity every year since.
  11. The Rotary Club of Naples, NY has been a partner for a number of years. They run the Operation Santa Program for needy families at Christmas time, with Budding Readers providing books for the children. Budding Readers also provides books for UPK and Kindergarten children that are gifted by the Rotary at Christmas.
  12. Our relationship with Saint’s Place began in 2022. They provide household goods, clothing, and educational assistance to legal refugees of all races and creeds who settle in the Rochester, NY area. Budding Readers proudly provides books to assist both adults and children with learning English.
  13. Our oldest and largest partnership was with the Finger Lakes WIC (Women, Infants & Children) Office in Canandaigua. They went remote during COVID and have not returned to in-person service since. NYS WIC is re-evaluating their service model and are operating remotely while they determine what role in-person appointments will play. The partnership began in 2010 and over 27, 000 books have been gifted to WIC children.
  14. Budding Readers has also successfully partnered with a number of food pantires in our communities to provide free children’s books when families come in to get food.
  15. Likewise, we have also had success partnering with local dental and doctor’s offices to a book as a treat for stopping by.