Mission Vision + History
SitStayRead advances children's literacy and builds confidence in young readers by using an engaging curriculum incorporating social-emotional learning, enriched by Certified Reading Assistance Dogs.
SitStayRead envisions a world where every child, regardless of race or economic status, has access to the resources and opportunities they need to develop strong literacy skills, build meaningful connections with animals, and thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Founded in 2003, SitStayRead was born out of a community outreach program at the Call of the Wild School for Dogs in Chicago, when its manager, MaryEllen Schneider, realized her aging dog, Shandy, might bring value in new ways. MaryEllen enlisted Sarah Murphy and MK Czerwiec, fellow volunteer dog handlers at Rainbow Animal-Assisted Therapy, to help her launch innovative canineassisted early literacy program that quickly became SitStayRead First programs were held at Chicago Public Library branches and in Chicago Public Schools.
As of 2025, SitStayRead has supported more than 26,800 students, distributed over 66,000 books, and hosted countless literacy events across Chicago. Current priorities include the development of bilingual and family programming, the evaluation and evolution of K-2nd grade curricula for increased learning impact, and investment in a growing and diverse corps of dedicated Book Buddies and Dog Teams, ranging from teens to elders from across Chicagoland
Welcome
Dear Reader,
Thank you for your curiosity about SitStayRead’s mission-driven literacy work and the young, emerging Chicago readers that we serve 2024-2025 was a year of restored and new program partnerships, regenerated reach, and revitalized energy within our team of staff, volunteers, interns, and board If you invested in our work - be proud of having made an impact! Whether you are familiar with or new to SitStayRead, we hope this report will be an inspiring introduction to our work and our trajectory for the near future.
In 2024 and 2025, SitStayRead leadership retooled operations and the board shifted from a hands-on to a governance model as the organization stabilized following a period of transition prompted by COVID its subsequent impacts The current FY24-FY26 Strategic Plan was reviewed, affirmed, and refreshed with the following pillars:
Expand Community Impact
Execute with Excellence Drive Sustained Support
SitStayRead has made significant strides in all of these areas over the past 18 months. But the need for more literacy support at the critical stage in our K-2nd grade students’ learning journey is high With October’s 2025 Illinois State Board of Education Report Card came the daunting news that on average less than 21% of Chicago 3rd graders in lowincome communities are reading proficiently
There is work to be done. Our students have lively minds and are excited to engage with SitStayRead Book Buddies and Dog Teams. We are showing up, and the kids are more likely to show up on “dog days”. Families are showing up at our Chicago Public Library series, summer programs, and family literacy events. Join us, and let’s get to work in 2026!
Regards,
PS Keep Reading!
Deirdre
Deirdre Harrison CFRE Executive Director
Luciano
Luciano DeNisco Board President
2024-25 By the Numbers
12 SCHOOL PARTNERS
Revenue + Expenses
Partnerships In Action NEIU
In 2023, SitStayRead welcomed its first cohort of undergraduate interns from a fieldwork class taught by Acting Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences and psychology professor Amanda Dykema-Engblade, Ph.D. at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU). Since then, four groups of interns have worked under the supervision of Program Manager Cynthia Marroquin to support mono and dual-language programming with hundreds of volunteer hours, while completing a number of projects related to program enhancement, family literacy resources, and bilingual communications
Projects have included creating a database of resources for Book Buddy and Dog team professional development; creating an online series of “Dog Stories” about SitStayRead Dog Teams for students and alumni; and gathering resources for student families which are sent home with KeepReading! book sets at the end of each classroom residency
In 2025, SitStayRead contracted its first former NEIU intern as a seasonal Program Lead. For the 2025-26 school year, Vanessa Benitez is leading dual-lingual K2nd grade programs at the Acero Carlos Fuentes School, where she attended elementary school herself. This partnership not only strengthens SitStayRead’s capacity to serve more children during the school year with individuals we have observed in the classroom already, but nurtures future homegrown Chicago educators, social workers, and child psychologists as they work their way though graduate school and the launch of their professional lives.
Chicago Public Library Family Literacy Series
In the fall of 2024, SitStayRead accepted the wonderful invitation from Chicago Public Library, our first program partner back in 2003, to return with a series of family literacy events at branches across the city. With guidance from Katie Eckert and Lori Frumkin of CPL’s Family and Children's Services, SitStayRead Dog Teams and Book Buddies visited 14 branches, with an additional 5 added in summer of 2025 Programs offered easy-to-replicate literacy games and activities, read aloud time with dogs, and highlighted CPL’s Jump Into Reading decoder books and resources for emergent readers
Spurred by universally positive feedback from initial program branches, 13 visits were planned for fall 2025, including many launching CPL’S Lánzate hacia la lectura initiative for English Language Learners. City of Chicago TV filmed a feature on the partnership at the Lozano Branch in Pilsen, and volunteers from corporate and other groups, including bilingual staff at the Illinois Office of the General Attorney joined to support specific branch visits.
“...As one of our librarians described it, SitStayRead is everything you could want out of a reading buddies type program. The kids are having so much fun that they don't really notice that they are working on their reading skills!
We’ve been thrilled with this partnership libraries can be tricky; each one is a little different, kids come in and out of programs, sometimes we see families, sometimes we only see kids without their grown ups. The staff, volunteers, and ESPECIALLY the dogs of SitStayRead have been amazing at each library they’ve visited, being flexible and supporting each community’s specific needs.”
- Katie Eckert, Early Learning Specialist at Chicago Public Library
Return to CPS
SitStayRead joyfully reentered Chicago Public Schools as a no-cost provider of literacy enrichment in October 2024, after a protracted hiatus due to changes in CPS animal regulations that occurred during COVID as well as other administrative restructuring Pilsen Community Academy became SitStayRead’s “sponsor school”. Former kindergarten teacher, and first time principal Yadira Bernadac, was a persistent and collaborative champion in getting SitStayRead staff through the final stages of CPS’s “procurement” process
As soon as the word was out that SitStayRead was able to return to CPS, classroom residencies were booked and waitlists formed SitStayRead offered one time visits and family literacy events to schools it could not serve with full residencies. Overall student reach, including CPS, increased from 791 in FY24 to over 1,800 in FY25. To date, in 2025-26, SitStayRead is on track for both increased reach and continuity with students from year to year, K-2 grade. nd
“When we began the program, we saw a notable increase in smiles, excitement to read, and, of course, the delight in petting the cutest dogs around!
Our students’ eyes lit up when books were read in both English and Spanish, showcasing the deep appreciation for having a bilingual educator providing access to literature. Other teachers quickly caught on to the magic happening, and the number of requests to participate was joyously overwhelming....
As we continue to work together, I hope SitStayRead becomes an integral part of our PCA culture, intertwining with our families and building a community rooted in literacy and love for learning.
Thank you, Sit Stay Read, for this amazing opportunity and for being a part of not only my first year as a school leader but also the educational journey of my Pandas, staff, and families.”
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- Principal Yadira Bernadac, Pilsen Community Academy
2024-25 Map
Classroom Residency Programs
Acero - Barolomé de Las Casas
Acero - Carlos Fuentes
Catalyst Circle Rock
John B Drake, CPS
Gunsaulus Scholastic, CPS
Helge A Haugan CPS
Leslie Lewis, CPS
Milton Brunson Math and Science, CPS
Pilsen Community Academy, CPS
St. Ethelreda School
One-Time Family Literacy Events
Alessandro Volta, CPS
Bookie’s New & Used Books
Edwards, CPS
John A Walsh, CPS
Redwood Day School
Redwood Literacy
Willa Cather, CPS
Chicago Public Library Programs
Albany Park Branch
Austin Branch
Beverly Branch
Budlong Woods Branch
Edgewater Branch
Harold Washington Library
Legler Regional Library
Lincoln Park Branch
Lozano Branch
Manning Branch
McKinley Park Branch
Rogers Park Branch
South Shore Branch
West Englewood Branch
West Town Branch
Woodson Regional Library
Early Childhood Family Literacy Pilot
With VOCEL in Little Village With New Moms in Austin
Honoring Our Volunteers
2025 Iditarod Dog Team
Nancy, Harry, + Happy Devereaux
We honor the Devereaux family’s collective longevity of service, their unwavering compassion for young learners, and the impact their consistency in classrooms has had on individual students, as well as on overall programs Inspired by the early iterations of the famous race, with its focus on the attuned and agile working relationship between dogs and their mushers, rather than competition between teams, we dub this trio the 2025 Iditarod Dog Team and look forward to their continued presence in our corps
2025 Toto + Dorothy Legendary Dog Team
Harla + Ricky Hutchinson
The SitStayRead family has cherished Harla and Rocky’s gentle, kind-hearted presence and quiet knack for helping students relax, unleash their curiosity, and embrace language Rocky’s reputation as great listener - a big compliment from our studentsonly increased over time. We are so grateful for the skill and the joy this team brought to our programs As they retire after more than 7 years as a SitStayRead Certified Reading Assistance Dog Team, we celebrate the immense impact they have made on staff, fellow volunteers, and most of all, in the lives of the many students they have served by proclaiming them a Toto and Dorothy Legendary Dog Team
2025 Wadokwuk Book Buddy*
Sam Baudinette,
PhD
Sam joined SitStayRead as a Book Buddy at the start of 2025 and hit the ground running! From day one, he immersed himself in the work, adopting a Second Grade classroom at St Ethelreda with consistency and heart, while also stepping in to support our Pilsen and Austin schools In the classroom and beyond, Sam brings a gentle presence and a genuine warmth that resonates with everyone he meets He models patience, which helps children slow down and begin to develop a habit of editing their own work; fear of making mistakes slips away and the confidence in finding errors and correcting their own reading or writing becomes empowering and even fun In 2025, Sam serves as Program Lead at St Ethelreda
*Honoringakind,patientcompanionandallyofanygender,andinspiredbya Potawatomiewordfor“friend” (wahDOKwuk)
Recognizing Generosity
2025 Xolo Award
Steve Hier
The Xoloitzcuintle ‘Xolo’ award, inspired by the qualities of the ancient Mayan and Aztec breed and its modern descendants, honors a person or entity that has had significant impact on SitStayRead and its work by creating a strong bond of trust and partnership over time.
Not only generous with his time, talents, and sense of humor for many years as a volunteer, Steve Hier has remained a SitStayRead champion since his beloved Certified Reading Assistance Dog Nick passed He has invested in the fiscal health of the organization and been generous with sharing institutional memory with the current generation of staff We are incredibly grateful to have such a dedicated member of our community whose care for our city extended to his volunteerism at the Cook County Juvenile Center, his commitment to his Unitarian Church community, and in the creation of the first Northwest Side urban arboretum in Palmer Square after planting hundreds of trees in the City of Chicago
Thank you Steve for your service and for your trust in us to keep evolving SitStayRead’s canine-assisted literacy programs to serve current literacy needs of our city’s youngest students, and to foster the human potential in every child and adult we meet As we work towards a 100% literate society, you remain a model for hard work, big dreams, and a passion for living our best lives by helping everyone else live their best lives.
Outgoing Board Members
Vice President Joshua Nelson
Dina Nelson-Gonzalez
Past President Ann Scholhamer
Our sincere gratitude for SitStayRead’s outgoing board members who helped carry the organization through a period of great change Thank you for helping us meet the moment with whole-hearted devotion and good humor
Bark ‘N Ball 2025
2024-25 Staff
Deirdre Harrison
Executive Director
Selena Clark
Operations Coordinator
Deitra Lawson
CPA, MBA, Accountant
Jamie Crockett
Program Director
Cynthia Marroquin
Program Manager
Lexsie Hernández
Volunteer Program Manager
Boni Fine
Program Lead
Briana McLean
Early Childhood Pilot Consultant
17
Board
Luciano Denisco CPA, President
Director - Business Performance Improvement, Protiviti
Joshua Nelson MBA ‘26, VP
Motorola Services
Kevin Kinnamon CPA, Treasurer
Audit Managing Director, KPMG 2024-25
Jeannie Folk CPA
Program Director, Northwestern University
Carmen Gonzalez
DEI Consultant and Community Leader
Christina Ho, Development Chair
Senior Environmental Program Manager, Comed ~ An Exelon Company
Sarah Inciong, Strategic Planning
Senior Vice President, Allstate PropertyLiability Sales and Distribution
Qiana McNary, HR Chair
Senior Talent Acquisition Partner, Bezos Academy
Dina Nelson Gonzalez Chief, Chicago
Margaret Walden, CPA
Community Leader
*ReginaMillerMBA‘26
2025-26 Golub Capital Board Scholar, Non-Voting
*SamanthaRomero-Zavala
2025-26 Kellogg School of Management, non-voting
Sarah Inciong, Co-President
Senior Vice President, Allstate PropertyLiability Sales and Distribution
Qiana McNary, Co-President
Senior Talent Acquisition Partner, Bezos Academy 2025-26*
Jeannie Folk CPA, Treasurer
Program Director, Northwestern University
Luciano DeNisco CPA, Secretary
CPA, MBA, Accountant
Caitlin Boline EdD
Solution Architect, LEGO Education
Jamillah Davis
Principal Embedded Systems Architect, Motorola Solutions
Carmen Gonzalez
DEI Consultant and Community Leader
Christina Ho
Senior Environmental Program Manager, Comed ~ An Exelon Company
Kevin Kinnamon CPA
Audit Managing Director, KPMG
Margaret Walden CPA
Community Leader
Ann Scholhamer Community Leader Page 18
Andrew Weiner CPA
Principal - Strategic Resources Group, Cressey & Company
Thank You To Every Donor + Funder
We have worked to acknowledge all gifts received between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025 to the best of our ability Should you find an error, please contact us at info@sitstayreadorg and we will correct it immediately
Over $50,000
Cook County Justice Advisory Council
Up to $30,000
FDC Foundation
KPMG
Up to $20,000
Allstate Foundation
Up to $15,000
Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc
Romar Services, LLC
Up to $10,000
Altar'd State Deer Park
Butkiewicz Family Foundation
Dan + Nancie DeNisco
Luciano + Daniela DeNisco
Grainger
Helen + Curtis Pinnell Foundation
Helen Brach Foundation
Steve Hier
Highwind Impact Fund
Christina Ho
Emily Ho
Karen + Paul Hoelscher
Sarah and Ted Inciong
Kevin Kinnamon + Arianna Nagaro
Kremer Veterinary Strategies
The Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation
The Powell Foundation
The Siragusa Family Foundation
Up to $5,000
Anonymous
Larry + Bessy Benrus
Jamillah Davis
Nancy + Harry Devereux
Exelon - A Comed Company
William Gannon
Olivia Giampietro
Harris Family Philanthropic Foundation
Carolyn + Doug Neumeier
Cara Noonan + Joshua Wilson
Protiviti
Simple Generosity
Margaret "Peggy" Walden
Waterfront Horizons
Up to $2,500
Accuradio
Albertson's/Jewel Osco
Amit and Una Basak
Brian and Julia Byrd
Thomas DeNisco
Boni Fine
Jeannie Folk
Funny Ha-Ha
Nancy + John Hartung
Stephanie Holappa
Harla + Jim Hutchinson
John + Laila Harmann Family Fund
Rosemary + Gary Jones
Richard Lang
Max McGraw Foundation
Thomas Denio + Laura McKee
National Philanthropic Fund
Member of The Pack
Up to $2,500 (continued)
Jessica Rappe + Synergy Creative
Ashley + Nathan Remmert
Robert Half
Colleen Ryan
Hannah + Patrick Springmire
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Up to $1,000
Bill Niemiec + Nora Aguirre
Aldi Cares
Bob Besio
Birdie, Eva, Hezekiah + Susie Charitable
Gift Fund
Nancy + Alex Chacon
Rebecca + Richard Cline
Annick + Don Deubler
Laura Miller Eligator
Mark Erkenswick
Bree + Ben Falcon
Foundation Source
Deirdre Harrison + Eric Leonardson
Thoma Holl
Make It Better Foundation
Connie Masselink + Chris Ryan
Nick Stankey + Lindsay Mauer
Robert + Diane Niemiec
Organizational Resources
Our Change Foundation
Janet Papajani
RSM US LLP
Gabe Rubalcaba
S. Wolfways
Brett and Michelle Sanchez
Daniel Schreiner
Stella + George Leandris Charitable Foundation
Jennifer Torto
Renato Tosoc
Up to $500
AbbVie
American Endowment Foundation
David Augustyn
Baranay Family Foundation
Barrington Bank & Trust Co, N.A. a
Wintrust Community Bank
Carley Benrus
Mike + Filomena Boline
Amanda + Andrew Braslow
Katrina Cairo
Carol's Pub
Chicago Event Management
Selena + Geoffrey Clark
Amy and Andrew Funk
Robin Gilinger
Sean + Dina Harrison
Illinois Humanities
Stacy Knox Leaf Gutters
Mimi + Scott Manzler
Nick + Lupe McKeehan
Tom + Mary Pat McKenna
Qiana McNary
Tyler Michals
Mr + Mrs Eric Miller
Andrea Miller
Amy Mykytiuk
Joshua Nelson
Dina Nelson-Gonzalez + Steve Gonzalez
James Noorlag
Emma Nunley + Wyatt Tovey
Blair + John Pircon
Meg + Michael Racenstein
Rachel + Max Kagan Family Foundation
Viki + Tom Rivkin
Saul + Sandra Rodriguez
Salvi, Schostok + Pritchard P.C.
Julie Seibert + George Avdellas
Member of The Pack
Up to $500 (continued)
Sploot Veterinary Care
Dr. Timothy Sullivan
Shaun + Jocelyn Syring
The Wilmette Bookclub
Thrivent Financial
Thomas Vick
Up to
$250
Black Diamond Planners
Bright Funds Foundation
Alissa Calomino
Megan Caravello
Charity Charge
Jamie Crockett + Dan McPherrin
Winter Davis
Linda Delaney
Jennifer Dohm
Lia Douglas
Chris Dubois
Karin Feldner
Rebecca Garcia
Sarah Ghesquiere
Elizabeth Gisch
Margaret Gisch
Andreina Gomez + John Campagna
Carmen Gonzalez
Leonard C Goodman
Carla Gordon
William Graves
Scott Hamburg
Carmen Hernandez
Craig + Emily Hertzman
Shelley Kaplan
Anthony Kapp
Kurt Kindt
Jay + Ann Kinnamon
Lynn Lavender
Deitra Lawson
Rick Livingston
Ali Lorenz
Nancy MacIntosh
Macy's Inc
Melissa Maleske
Hani Masood
Penny McClary
Lejla McCready
Melanie McNary
Tyler Metcalf
Frank + Donna Militello
Rhonda + George Milkowski
Nancy Mullarkey
Lora Nickels
Jakin Esquivel Palacios
Sharon Porta
Christine Printz Ed.D.
Andrea Rodbro
Marlisa Sailer
Antonio Alvarez + Mandy Samano
John Schreiner
Matthew + Mary Beth Smith
Warren Solochek
STG Divorce Law
Talia Torres
John + Kenna Wagner Household
Rob Wald
Scott + Joni Wald
Washoe Pines Foundation
Jonathan Weitz
Sam Romero Zavala + Yoonmo Yang
Amelia Zitek
Claire Zulkey
Member of The Pack
Up to $100
Victoria Andrade
Jonnah Angara
Jerica Arents
Arthur Arfa
Scarlett Arroyo
Angele Arsenault
Yair Avalos
Leslie Baxter
Vanessa Benitez
Danah Bialoruski
Michelle Blackstone
Lynn Blaszak
Ryan Boatman
Jennifer Borowitz-Gutzke
Sandy Boyd-Jansen + Alex Jansen
Carly Boyle
Marjorie + Bob Breisblatt
Liz Breslin
Stone Brinkman
Turner Brown
Kashana Burnett
Michael Burns
Maria Caserta
Eileen Casey + Tim Kress
Susan Chase
Laurel Chesla
Fern Chlumsky
Tracey Ciciora
Amanda Cline
Joshua Cohen
Constellation Brands
Joyce Cook
Meghan Coppoletti
Rylie Coran
Megan Cornwall
Trudi Coutts
Karlee Cuff
Julie Dann
Judith Davis
Julie DeLoria
Ann Demand
Lauren DeRaleau
Neal Desai
Timothy Dolan
Eddie Dooley
Natalie Dowdell
Katie Dunne
David Eckhardt
Myles Edwards
Elanco Animal Health
Guadalupe Espinosa
Dana Evans
Colleen Fahey
Paul Fayad
Anna Fink
Ellen Finnegan
Tara + Sean Finnegan
Allen Fisher
Kieran Flahive
Kevin Folk
Linsey Foster
Jessica Fox
Douglas Freymann
Jason Gaines
Mary Gisch
Dayeli Gomez
Karen Goodman
Danielle Grant-Keane
Michael Gruendel
Erin Gurney
Katie Guzan
Sumin Han
Daria Hankewych
David Hart
Ann Harvey
Lori Haughey
Doreen Henricks
Nancy Herman
Susan Hier
Michelle Ho
Jennon Hoffmann
Caryn Hoffstedt
Rachael Hogan
Michael Hogan
Jonathan Hudec
Karyn Hurwich
CW Ingram
Vicki Jacobs
Mathan Johnson
Sarah Kaderavek
Elizabeth Kane
Brian Kaplan
Steffany Kaplan
Sujitha Karayil
Kyle Kinnamon
Elizabeth + Hazel Kirwan
Jonathan Klemm
Tobin Klinger
Mason Klonoski
Heidi Kohn
Michael Kozubek
William Larkin
Marilyn LeBlanc
Peter LeBlanc
Megan Leider
Traci Lensing
Christian Lim
David Long
Lizzie Loring
Shelby Loughman
Marisa Low
Sam Lubbat
Miel Mac-Williams
Patrick Magner
Sheila Majumdar
Jessica M Mason
Amber May
Linda McBride
Macy McCafferty
Kathy + John McKenna
Briana McLean
Carol Miecznikowski
Jonathon Milam
Jill Miller
Ariella Miller
Trey Mitchell
Shaina Moran
Mary Morrell
Esther Morrissey
Louise + Robert Motel
Dan Murphy
Tonya Murray
Courtney Mygatt
Peter + Theresa Nagaro
Paul Nagaro
Judy Nazemetz
Lupe Nelson
Rachel Newman
Angela Ng
Nielsen Company
Jason Noble
Kirstin Nordhaus
Kevin O’Brien
Carmen Ochoa Galindo
Kate + Don Ogilvie
Abby Olson
Sarah Olson
Peggy + Steve Ono
Gwendolyn Ottolin
Frances Pagliari
Christina Pang
Jessica Pekny
Chris Peters
Rachel Purches
Ginger Purgatorio
Charlotte Quinn
Elizabeth Ralph
Clara Raubertas
Loretta Reed
Up to $100 (continued)
Jennifer Reinhart Dungar
Brad Resnick
Michele Richardson
Megan Riesgo
Andres Rivera
Brian Roberts
Laura Rojas
Jon + Lisa Sall
Ginelle Sanchez
Peggy Scanlan
Joseph Schagemann
Jessica Schloth
Kyle Schoenfelt
Gabrielle Schreier
Ana Schreiner
Laura Schuler
Chris Schultz
Terra Schultz
Katherine Schultz
Jamie Schwartz
Nancy Schwartz
Mary Semik
Kara Severson
Gayatri Shenoy
Leslie Shimmin
Barbara Shomaker
Barbara Silbert
Rhonda Singer
Ryan Sinon
Slee Household
Cori Sloan
Adrienne Aziza Kemet Smith
Sneha Soni
Nick Spataro
Brenda Strong
Studio ARQ, LLC
Haddon Talsma
Amy Taylor + Craig Taczy
Kimberlie Terry
The Lullo Family Fund
Cassie Tiefenauer
Corie Tiencken
Katie Traines
Jennifer + Christian Turner
Jennifer Tyler
Eryn Walanka
Chad Walters
Chris Way
Mary Elizabeth Wehmann
Suzanne Weiner
Don Weiss
Pam Wentink
Maralee Wicks
Daniel William
Brooke Williams
Lancelot Williams
Cheryl Wilson
Kristina Wilson
Susan Wolan
Herbert Woodbery
Shelly Wright Page 23
Member of The Pack
BARK ‘N BALL
