MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - Next Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, brings the 22nd Annual Reading in the Schools Day, when more than 2,000 community volunteers will visit classrooms across Murfreesboro and Rutherford County, reading to over 20,000 students. It’s one of the largest literacy celebrations in the region, and it continues to grow each year. Plus, All Read To Succeed programs are offered free of charge, supported by grants, community partners, and the organization’s only annual fundraiser — the Celebrity Spelling Bee.

Read To Succeed Executive Director Jolene Radnoti says literacy is a year‑round mission. “At Read To Succeed, we celebrate the power of literacy in every season and at every stage of life,” she shared.

Read To Succeed supports families through Pre‑K Imagination Station sessions, Family Literacy Nights, and AdLit/KidLit Book Clubs for students of all ages. Adults benefit from free one‑on‑one tutoring, ESL/ELL instruction, Conversation Hours, and Citizenship preparation. Radnoti notes that each program helps individuals reach personal goals while strengthening families and the community as a whole.

One Read: Remarkably Bright Creatures

Read To Succeed’s popular One Read tradition continues, inviting the entire community to enjoy the same book and come together for conversations about its themes. Be sure to grab your copy of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt while supplies last. The final boxes of this year’s One Book of Rutherford County selection have now been delivered to our friends at the Rutherford County Library System.

A heartfelt thank‑you goes to the Friends of Smyrna Library and the Friends of Linebaugh Library, whose generous support made it possible to provide even more copies beyond our original order. Their commitment ensures that even more readers across our community can experience this remarkable story.

A Special “Battle of the Bees” This Year

This fall marks the 20th anniversary of the Bee, and Read To Succeed is celebrating in a big way. Former champions will return to compete in a spirited “Battle of the Bees” on Friday, November 6, 2026, at The View at Fountains. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner from nonprofit partner, The Sweet Addiction, begins at 6:30pm, and the program starts at 7:00pm.

The evening includes dinner, beverages, an exciting online auction, the unveiling of the 2027 One Book One Community selection, and plenty of friendly competition. Tickets go on sale Monday, October 5, for $75, with proceeds supporting Read To Succeed’s $70,000 fundraising goal — money that helps place books into the hands, hearts, and homes of families across Rutherford County.

As we look toward a season filled with stories, community, and the life‑changing power of literacy, Read To Succeed hopes to see you at the Bee and out in the schools this Friday, helping spark a love of reading that lasts a lifetime.

Learn more about Read To Succeed, visit their website: http://readtosucceed.org  or phone (615) 738-READ (7323).