Reading Education Foundation aims to inspire Reading students

The Reading Educational Foundation, a nonprofit founded five years ago, has invested nearly $300,000 in educational programs benefiting over 15,000 students across Reading, Pennsylvania. Led by board president Dr. Melissa Jamula, a retired Reading School District superintendent, the foundation funds innovative experiences such as hydroponic gardens at five middle schools and several elementary schools, where students grow ingredients, produce salsa, and learn sustainability and entrepreneurship. Among its initiatives, the foundation supported a New York City trip for Reading High School theater students to attend the Broadway musical *Hadestown*. Many students experienced their first time outside Reading, with some seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time. The trip included a master class taught by a *Hadestown* actor, broadening their exposure to professional arts. Stella I. Leonti, a retired district principal and foundation administrator, described the moment students emerged from the Lincoln Tunnel, where they applauded and embraced each other in awe of the new world they encountered. The foundation also funded STEM workshops for every fourth grader in the district and summer camp opportunities through Alvernia University’s Total Experience Learning program. Additionally, it supported the *Just a Kid From Reading* alumni storytelling project, encouraging local graduates to share their experiences. Gordon Hoodak, the foundation’s executive director and retired principal, emphasized that these programs provide opportunities the Reading School District cannot afford, helping students envision futures beyond their immediate surroundings. Roberto Sanchez, the foundation’s treasurer and a Reading High graduate, highlighted the organization’s mission to ensure students from Reading have the same opportunities as those outside the city. The foundation’s leadership, many of whom are longtime Reading residents, views the students as the city’s future, stressing that their success will shape Reading’s progress. During a recent presentation to City Council, members praised the foundation’s work and discussed potential partnerships to secure additional funding and community support. Vanessa Campos, a former Reading School District educator, called the foundation’s accomplishments ‘impressive’ and urged continued support for the district’s students. The foundation relies on private donations, grants, and fundraising to sustain its programs. For more information, visit the foundation’s website at w[ww.readingedfoundation.org/](http://ww.readingedfoundation.org/).