This year, Governor Cox and First Lady Abby Cox have focused on the importance of literacy, using policy and community partnerships to find meaningful solutions to improve literacy outcomes for Utah’s children. But this work is about more than test scores for students. It is about creating a culture of literacy where reading is valued, encouraged and celebrated from our youngest children through adulthood.
The Utah Reads Read-a-Thon is one way we can bring that vision to life in communities across Utah, and we invite your business to join on Friday, October 2 for one hour of reading!
Governor Cox and Utah’s First Lady will host a statewide livestream at 9:30 a.m., along with schools, libraries, families and communities to celebrate reading together.
This is about more than an hour of reading. It is about helping all Utahns see reading not only as an essential skill, but as a source of connection, curiosity and enjoyment. A recent study shows that the number of adults reading for pleasure has dropped over 40% in the last two decades. Additionally, in 2023, only 14% of 13-year-olds reported reading for fun almost every day, down from 27% in 2012. We have an opportunity to change that by making reading visible and celebrated throughout our communities.
On October 2, we hope you will pause the work day and give your employees the time and space to read. Read at your desks, in common areas or wherever and however works best for your business.
Register your business at showuputah.org and help us make October 2nd a day when Utah comes together to celebrate reading and create a long-lasting culture of literacy.
