Program Overview

Dirigo Reads is built on a simple, thoughtful model designed to grow responsibly and sustainably. With lots of deep breaths. And, hopefully, with your help. The goal is simple — and ambitious: to put a brand-new book into the hands of every Maine public school first grader, every month of the school year.

Schools and communities opt in, and Dirigo Reads curates high-quality, age-appropriate books that engage first graders and build reading confidence. Then, once a month during the school year, books are delivered to participating schools, with each first grader receiving a personal copy to take home, keep, and read again and again.

How We Got Here

In the beginning, the program started with finding schools and communities that wanted to participate. This meant making phone calls to superintendents and saying, “You don’t know us, but we want to give books to your kids.” Those calls were — understandably — met with some skepticism.

Today, 106 schools are actively participating in Dirigo Reads, working alongside us to make sure their first graders receive books they’re excited to read. Knowing which communities want to be next helps us plan carefully and grow responsibly.

What Makes It Possible

Books aren’t free. And reaching every first grader in Maine takes coordination and support. Dirigo Reads is made possible through partnerships with community-minded businesses and organizations who believe early literacy is worth investing in. Their support allows the program to remain free for families and schools, while reaching more children each year.

From the early days of Dirigo Reads, we’ve been fortunate to work with businesses and organizations who immediately understood the importance of early literacy and the value of investing in kids. We could always use more valued partners, but we’re incredibly thankful for those who see the goals and believe in the mission.

A Few People We’re Especially Thankful For

Machias Savings Bank is our first Dirigo Star Founding Partner. That means that Machias Savings Bank has made a significant investment in our kids, allowing as many children as possible to receive a new book to keep for every month of the school year. Machias Savings Bank understands the value of investing in our people and communities, and we thank them for their early support of Dirigo Reads.

Sutherland Weston Marketing Communications in Bangor is the reason you are seeing this website, the logo on this website, and some printed materials that are being circulated. They also have provided invaluable insight and helped with connections. Dirigo Reads thanks Sutherland Weston for the support not just for this organization, but for the community at large.

Bangor Savings Bank was the first partner to hear about the program and reach out to us. They wanted to know what they could do to get involved, and they got involved at the highest level possible without hesitation. Bangor Savings Bank is more than a partner, they are a neighbor, literally. And when we so often find that good neighbors are hard to find, our thanks cannot be overstated to our valued neighbors and partners at Bangor Savings Bank.

United Way of Eastern Maine is also supporting Dirigo Reads in a big way, by providing strategy help and insight, as well as being our fiscal partner. The goal of Dirigo Reads is lofty, so we really want to stay focused on the books, not so much the book-keeping. United Way of Eastern Maine is helping us with that and so much more. The mission of Dirigo Reads fits well with the mission of the United Way of Eastern Maine, and Dirigo Reads is thrilled to have their support.

Want to Be Part of It?

Dirigo Reads started from scratch, and it continues because people and organizations choose to help.

If you’re a business owner, an employee, or someone who knows an organization that might want to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. The support behind this program is making a real difference in the lives of children across Maine.

For partnerships, questions, or media inquiries, please contact: Dan Cashman — dan@DirigoReads.com