2025 Read A Thon: Getting Started Guide

Earhart Elementary’s 3rd annual Read-a-Thon runs from Saturday, March 8 through Friday, March 28.

During this three-week event, students will focus on reading while raising money for important PTA-sponsored programs. Historically, this event has raised half of our PTA’s general operating budget which supports programs that make Earhart the best place for our students to learn. These programs include:

– reading intervention specialist

– field trips & transportation for all students

– music & movement classes for TK & Kindergarten

– a multitude of community events

– dedicated science teacher & science lab

– art docents, art supplies and the Spring Art Show

– garden science docents

– staff & teacher appreciation

– generous classroom stipends so teachers can acquire the most appropriate learning resources for their students

– and much, much more!

Ready to get started? Register today at www.pledgestar.com/amelia. The first 300 students who register before March 8 will receive a timer bookmark!

Read-A-Thon Basics

Our 2025 Read A Thon fundraising goal is $70,000–an average of $120 per student. We have surpassed our goal for the last 2 years, can we continue the streak? While all donations are welcomed, donations from family and friends are the driving force behind this event. The Pledgestar online platform will be used again to track reading and collect donations. We ask that parents or guardians help our younger students with tracking their reading online so that they can be eligible to win prizes too.

New for 2025! No physical materials will be sent home. If you need paper trackers or forms, copies are available on this webpage (scroll to the FAQs below) or in the office.

Get Started - Register Now

Pledgestar is a web-based fundraising system that makes it easier for students to log their minutes and request donations from family and friends. Each family only needs to set up ONE website where you will register each of your students. Donations to your family will be evenly distributed among your students. Donors can make tax-deductible donations online securely or indicate their preference to donate via check.

Early Registration Reward The first 300 students to register in Pledgestar before March 8 will earn a timer bookmark to help keep track of all their reading during the Read A Thon!

Register for Pledgestar

From any browser: Go to http://pledgestar.com/amelia. Select “Not Registered For This Year’s Event” and follow the instructions to register your Reader(s) and add family and friends.

Use the mobile app: Search for “PledgeStar” in your App Store. Enter event code, “amelia,” and follow the instructions to register Reader(s) and add family and friends.

When you finish, the system emails pledge requests to your family and friends, and allows them to make secure credit card donations online. You get notified each time a pledge is made, and you can track your pledge progress online.

Logging Reading Time

Reading logs will go live on Saturday, March 8. Grown-ups, please either log your student’s reading minutes into Pledgestar for them or confirm that the minutes they’re entering are correct. Paper reading logs are available in the school office if desired, but using Pledgestar is highly recommended and required for prize drawings.

For website or app help, call 1-888-598-7510. For event questions, contact readathon@earhartpta.org.

Fundraising Tips & Strategies

Reading Tips & Strategies

Looking for ideas to help your student get excited about reading?

Try setting a daily reading goal that is challenging, yet attainable. Not sure how long? Ask your child’s teacher for recommendations.
Get fresh reading material. This doesn’t have to cost a lot of money–visit the library, attend our free Book Swap on 3/1, check out the free book cart on campus, buy used books at Rocket Reuse or Friends of the Alameda Library’s book sales or simply borrow books from friends.
Show them that you enjoy reading too. Lead by example, and you may find your new favorite read yourself.
Make it a game–how much reading do you do when it isn’t just sitting down with a book? You might be surprised!
Encourage and praise your child as they participate and engage in reading anything that is appropriate for their reading level.
For even more ideas, check out these links:

FAQ's

Q. What are the dates of the Read A Thon?

A. This year’s event will take place from Saturday, March 8 – Friday, March 28, but you can register on Pledgestar TODAY to get a head start!

Q. How much money do we have to raise?

A. This year’s goal is $70,000. That is an average of $120 raised by each student.

Q. Why do we have to raise so much money?

A. The unfortunate truth is that funding from local, state and federal sources is woefully inadequate. We are fortunate to have a generous community that has allowed Earhart students to receive robust enrichmentt programs including our unique, dedicated science teacher & lab, among many, many other things that the PTA supports. Each year we must raise money to maintain the level of programs we have grown accustomed to.

Q. What counts as reading and what if my child can’t read independently yet?

A. Any reading done outside of the classroom counts! Any language, in any medium, being read to live or on video, listening to audiobooks, reading recipes, singing karaoke…..the possibilities are endless. Have more than one student? Have them take turns reading out loud to each other–it’s a win-win! Don’t forget to track it on your personal Pledgestar page.

Q. How can my child earn prizes?

A. All prizes will be determined from fundraising and reading efforts tracked on the Pledgestar website. Unfortunately it gets tricky to include offline donations and reading logs.

Q. I still need paper donation and/or reading logs. Where can I find them?

A. You can print copies at home using these links below, or you can find copies in the school office.

Printable Pledge Form

Printable Reading Log

Have a question that isn’t listed here? Reach out to readathon@earhartpta.org.

Your student’s participation and fundraising make a tangible impact at Earhart!

Thanks for supporting the PTA’s efforts. If you have any questions, please email readathon@earhartpta.org.

2025 Read A Thon: Getting Started Guide

Earhart Elementary’s 3rd annual Read-a-Thon runs from Saturday, March 8 through Friday, March 28.

– reading intervention specialist

– field trips & transportation for all students

– music & movement classes for TK & Kindergarten

– a multitude of community events

– dedicated science teacher & science lab

– art docents, art supplies and the Spring Art Show

– garden science docents

– staff & teacher appreciation

– generous classroom stipends so teachers can acquire the most appropriate learning resources for their students

– and much, much more!

Ready to get started? Register today at www.pledgestar.com/amelia. The first 300 students who register before March 8 will receive a timer bookmark!

*New for 2025!* No physical materials will be sent home. If you need paper trackers or forms, copies are available on this webpage (scroll to the FAQs below) or in the office.

*Early Registration Reward* The first 300 students to register in Pledgestar before March 8 will earn a timer bookmark to help keep track of all their reading during the Read A Thon!

Register for Pledgestar

From any browser: Go to http://pledgestar.com/amelia. Select “Not Registered For This Year’s Event” and follow the instructions to register your Reader(s) and add family and friends.

Use the mobile app: Search for “PledgeStar” in your App Store. Enter event code, “amelia,” and follow the instructions to register Reader(s) and add family and friends.

When you finish, the system emails pledge requests to your family and friends, and allows them to make secure credit card donations online. You get notified each time a pledge is made, and you can track your pledge progress online.

Logging Reading Time

For website or app help, call 1-888-598-7510. For event questions, contact readathon@earhartpta.org.

Looking for ideas to help your student get excited about reading?

Try setting a daily reading goal that is challenging, yet attainable. Not sure how long? Ask your child’s teacher for recommendations.

Get fresh reading material. This doesn’t have to cost a lot of money–visit the library, attend our free Book Swap on 3/1, check out the free book cart on campus, buy used books at Rocket Reuse or Friends of the Alameda Library’s book sales or simply borrow books from friends.

Show them that you enjoy reading too. Lead by example, and you may find your new favorite read yourself.

Make it a game–how much reading do you do when it isn’t just sitting down with a book? You might be surprised!

Encourage and praise your child as they participate and engage in reading anything that is appropriate for their reading level.

For even more ideas, check out these links:

Q. What are the dates of the Read A Thon?

A. This year’s event will take place from Saturday, March 8 – Friday, March 28, but you can register on Pledgestar TODAY to get a head start!

Q. How much money do we have to raise?

A. This year’s goal is $70,000. That is an average of $120 raised by each student.

Q. Why do we have to raise so much money?

Q. What counts as reading and what if my child can’t read independently yet?

Q. How can my child earn prizes?

A. All prizes will be determined from fundraising and reading efforts tracked on the Pledgestar website. Unfortunately it gets tricky to include offline donations and reading logs.

Q. I still need paper donation and/or reading logs. Where can I find them?

A. You can print copies at home using these links below, or you can find copies in the school office.

Have a question that isn’t listed here? Reach out to readathon@earhartpta.org.

Your student’s participation and fundraising make a tangible impact at Earhart!

Thanks for supporting the PTA’s efforts. If you have any questions, please email readathon@earhartpta.org.

New for 2025! No physical materials will be sent home. If you need paper trackers or forms, copies are available on this webpage (scroll to the FAQs below) or in the office.

Early Registration Reward The first 300 students to register in Pledgestar before March 8 will earn a timer bookmark to help keep track of all their reading during the Read A Thon!