MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Reach Out and Read Wisconsin, an affiliate of the national nonprofit leading the charge in early literacy and relational health, is proud to announce a $7,600 investment into 11 Wisconsin communities. These scholarship funds will empower 13 clinics to provide high-quality books that reflect the diverse experiences, cultures, and perspectives of the families they serve.
Now in its second year, the Mirrors & Windows initiative has awarded nearly $20,000 in scholarships to date. This current round of funding will directly impact 13 clinics across 11 counties.
“Our Mirrors & Windows initiative helps clinics purchase developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive books that match the diverse backgrounds of our communities,” said DeDe Williams, Executive Director of Reach Out and Read Wisconsin. “It also offers a glimpse into how much Wisconsin families have in common. We’re thrilled to support clinics in delivering patient-centered care while boosting early literacy through this fantastic initiative.”
Each of the 13 clinics—representing 10 different health systems—will receive scholarships ranging from $100 to $1,000, scaled to the number of children under age five they serve. Clinics will purchase books through Barefoot Books, a partner known for stories featuring characters from various backgrounds, cultures, abilities, and identities.
The 2026 scholarship recipients include:
- Ascension All Saints – Union Grove (Racine County)
- Aspirus Rhinelander Pediatrics (Oneida County)
- Children’s Wisconsin North Shore Pediatrics (Ozaukee County)
- Children’s Wisconsin Southwest Pediatrics (Waukesha County)
- Emplify Health by Gundersen-Blair Clinic (Trempealeau County)
- Ho-Chunk Health Care Center (Jackson County)
- Mosaic Family Health (Outagamie County)
- Noble Community Clinics – Friendship (Adams County), Stevens Point (Portage County), and Wautoma (Waushara County)
- SSM Health Sun Prairie Pediatrics (Dane County)
- ThedaCare Physicians APC Fellowship (Outagamie County)
- UW Health East Terrace Pediatrics (Dane County)
“The Mirrors & Windows initiative aligns closely with many of Aspirus’s core values, including joy, compassion, and foresight,” said Megan Miles of Aspirus Rhinelander Pediatrics. “By providing books that reflect both the experiences of our patients and those of others, we bring connection to families while promoting empathy. It helps us build a more inclusive environment for future generations.”
Nearly 9,000 families will benefit from the diverse titles provided through these scholarships. In FY25, Reach Out and Read Wisconsin served 147,238 children and provided 342,039 books across 407,564 well-child visits.
To learn more about Reach Out and Read Wisconsin, visit reachoutandread.org.
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About Reach Out and Read Wisconsin: With 317 participating medical clinics across Wisconsin, Reach Out and Read Wisconsin provides more than 148,000 children and their families in 64 counties with books and resources to empower parents as their child’s first and best teachers. Reach Out and Read is a two-generation intervention built and backed by science and a growing body of academic research. It utilizes the existing medical infrastructure to encourage supportive, educational conversations with parents on the importance of reading aloud and the impact of nurturing relationships. For more information about Reach Out and Read Wisconsin, visit reachoutandread.org/wisconsin.