FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts: Kyle Fahsel, Director of Mentoring and Partnerships, RIF Pittsburgh | kfahsel@rifpittsburgh.org | 412-321-8022
Kailin Nelson, Associate Athletic Director/Director of Athletic Communication, Chatham University | k.nelson@chatham.edu | 412-365-1454
RIF Pittsburgh to Host "Literacy Under the Lights" Event on Oct. 8th
Free family event at Chatham University's UPMC Graham Field will put hundreds of new books into kids' hands.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — September 22, 2026 — On Thursday, October 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) Pittsburgh will host a "Literacy Under the Lights" celebration, a free family literacy event at Chatham University's UPMC Graham Field. As part of the "Won't You Be a Reader?" campaign launched this year by the Grable Foundation, Scholastic, RIF Pittsburgh, and other local organizations, the event will transform the field into a glowing festival of books. Kids will self-select three free books from a Scholastic book fair at centerfield and enjoy storytimes led by local athletes, community leaders, and elected officials. RIF Pittsburgh expects to serve about 200 kids and families, placing at least 600 new, diverse books in their hands. Additional partners include Chatham University, UPMC, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, and Kidsburgh, among others.
EVENT AT A GLANCE
What/When: Literacy Under the Lights — Thursday, October 8, 2026, 5:30–7:30 p.m., free and open to the public
Where: Chatham University's UPMC Graham Field, 1125 Princeton Blvd, Wilkinsburg, PA 15221
More info: www.rifpittsburgh.org/lights
About Reading Is Fundamental Pittsburgh
RIF Pittsburgh is a children's literacy nonprofit organization working to mitigate literacy and achievement gaps in Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg. Last program year, it provided nearly 84,000 books—wrapped in fun, motivational literacy experiences—to about 15,000 children and families. Learn more at www.rifpittsburgh.org.
