Our Founders
Read to Succeed’s innovative program was founded in 2008 by Ralph and Barbara Papitto to address Providence’s academic achievement gap head-on. Ralph and Barbara knew that reading was the path to success for students. They attributed their achievements in school and business to their early love of reading.
By encouraging the crucial activity of summer reading, the Read to Succeed Summer Reading Program helps prevent students from falling behind and encourages them, through scholarships, to focus on attending college. This remarkable journey has thwarted the summer learning loss most prevalent among low-income children and has evolved to a level where reading skills are now gained over the summer.
The first summer reading program took place in 2008. Since then, Read to Succeed has opened over 1,040 accounts, which now have more than $3.1 million in scholarships ready to help pay for college. In 2023, 543 students received 3,258 free books, and 375 students completed the program. In 2024, Read to Succeed provided 619 students with 3,714 free books, and 430 students completed the program. That means Read to Succeed awarded $430,000 in scholarships.
Did You Know?
A study has shown that a $500 savings for college can increase the likelihood of college enrollment from 49% to 72%.
Our Goals
Reduce
Promote
Provide
Create
Reduce or eliminate the summer learning loss by reading over the summer.
Promote recreational reading as a source of relaxation, learning, and fun.
Provide free books to you and your families to keep and share.
Create a pathway to college through scholarships at an early age.
How it Works
01.
During the summer,
Read to Succeed enables low-income Providence students to maintain their learning momentum. The powerful incentive is a $1,000 college scholarship award each year, for up to six years.
02.
03.
Read to Succeed purchases books and delivers the books in a Read to Succeed bag, before summer vacation with volunteer support from Cox Communications.
After reading each book, students take an online comprehension test through the Accelerated Reader Program.
Completion Award
Students who pass all six tests are awarded a $1,000 scholarship in a Read to Succeed-sponsored Rhode Island CollegeBound Saver account, the state’s 529 college savings program.
Making A Difference
Achievement Gap
Over 1,000
students have completed
Read to Succeed.
Scholarships
Read to Succeed has awarded
$3.1 million in scholarships.
Summer
Learning Loss
Kids can lose up to 28% of their reading skills over summer. Read to Succeed stops this slide by keeping kids reading and learning.
Enrollment
Expecting
620 students enrolled in 2025.
Distribution
Read to Succeed has distributed 28,566 books to partner schools.
Meet the Team
Board of Advisors
Barbara Papitto, Chairwoman
The Papitto Foundation
Tim Draper
Navigant Credit Union
Elisabeth Fuller
Cox Communications
Adam Gordon, P.E.
Manchester Street Station
Rose Mary Grant
Retired Educator
David Guertin, Jr.
Vantage in Philanthropy
Linda Jane Maaia
Maaia Communications
Lindsay Mitchell
Compass Real Estate
Robert Murray
Gilbane, Inc.
James Myers, M.D.
Rhode Island & Miriam Hospitals
Edward Pieroni
Andsager, Bartlett & Pieroni, LLP
Edward Power
Charles Schwab & Co, Inc.
Robert Ricci
BankRI
J.L. Singleton
Providence Performing Arts Center
John Tarantino, Esq.
Adler Pollock & Sheehan, P.C.
Michael Voccola, Esq.
The Procaccianti Group
David Wegrzyn
Bryant University