The Literacy Promise Project

Logo for The Folded Leaf Foundation featuring an open book with leaves and branches emerging from the pages, and text indicating it's a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Enhancing Life Literacy

The Literacy Promise Project isn’t just another reading program. We wanted to do something that shows the power of a good book in a real, impactful way. By taking lessons from a book and applying them in tangible ways, we are helping kids understand that their imagination is powerful in their own community.

Whether they decide to help with a fundraiser, blaze a new trail through the Sleeping Bear Dunes, or pick up trash in the park, The Literacy Promise Project helps them learn that literacy is about more than reading; it’s about living life with purpose.

People looking at a children's book with colorful illustrations of historical figures and scenes, including toy sneakers visible in the background.

Leaning into community

Another aspect of The Literacy Promise Project is our commitment to provide essential life items for our participants and their families. We want to make sure our participants (and everyone…) are fed, clothed, and warm no matter where they are in life.

Our participants or their families are welcome to complete a “Community That Cares” form to share some of their needs. Those needs can include everything from toothpaste to plumbing work. We are more than happy to provide items or facilitate home help whenever needed through our many community partnerships. This is always private and will not be shared with anyone outside of those who make these necessary connections and provisions.

Red sign with large white text reading "COMMUNITY" attached to a building with large windows and brick architectural details.

How support becomes impact

Your support helps provide:

  • Books and learning materials for youth participants

  • Mentor screening, training, curriculum, and ongoing support

  • Groceries, hygiene products, and household necessities for participating families

  • Free and low-cost literary and community programming

  • A welcoming space where people can gather without pressure to purchase

  • The daily nonprofit bookstore operations that make this work possible

As our first youth cohorts begin, we will report our results openly—including participation, mentor hours, books and resources distributed, completed community projects, and youth writing created.

Book Wish List

These are some of the books we need for The Literacy Promise Project! Take a look at the list, and if you have any gently used copies, we would be happy to accept them as donations. If you don’t, but you still want to help out, consider donating and specifying how you would like your donation used!

Cover of All American Boys
Two copies of a children's book titled 'The 1619 Project: Born on Water' by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson, illustrated by Nikolas Smith, with a cover illustration of two children, a girl and a boy, swimming in water under a cloudy sky.
Book cover for "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis. Features a large lion's face in the background, a white witch in a blue dress casting a spell, and four children dressed as medieval warriors preparing to fight.
Book cover of 'I Am Malala' showing Malala Yousafzai wearing a pink and floral scarf, seated against a blue background.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
by Judy Blume

I Am Malala
by Malala Yousafzai

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
by C.S. Lewis

Born on the Water
by Nikole Hannah-Jones and
Renee Watson

Book cover of 'Where the Wild Things Are' by Maurice Sendak, depicting a large wild creature with horns, sitting among trees with palm-like leaves, and a sailing ship in the water.

Where The Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak

A girl with dark skin and black hair in a bun, wearing a beige T-shirt with cut-out shoulders, holding a pink backpack decorated with various patches, and looking to the right. The book title is "A Good Kind of Trouble" with author Lisa Moore Ramée, featuring a quote from Angie Thomas.

All American Boys
by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

A Good Kind of Trouble
by Lisa Moore Ramee

Book cover of 'Little House on the Prairie' by Laura Ingalls Wilder, illustrated by Garth Williams. The cover features a family riding in a covered wagon in a prairie setting, with a dog in front. The border has a red and white checkered pattern, and there are logos indicating the 65th anniversary of Little House on the Prairie.
Book cover titled "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky, featuring a young man with dark hair, wearing a red jacket and striped shirt, standing in front of a green background with orange flowers.
Book cover of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee, featuring a silhouette of a girl on a tire swing hanging from a tree branch, with a gold badge indicating 60th anniversary edition and over 30 million copies sold worldwide.

To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee

A girl with dark hair, wearing a purple top and a red skirt with floral patterns, holding a white feather. The background features a large moon and a stylized water scene with the text 'We Are Water Protectors' and a gold medal. The top left corner credits Carole Lindstrom as the writer and Michaela Goade as the illustrator.
A book cover with a yellow background pattern, featuring black and white photo of a girl with a headscarf, text indicating 'Sold' in red, and a silver emblem that reads 'National Book Award Finalist' by Patricia McCormick.

Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky

Sold
by Patricia McCormick

A young woman in a plaid dress and black shoes, standing on one leg with the other bent and toe touching the ground. She is outdoors against a light blue background, with artistic text and a purple heart that reads 'Now a major motion picture.' The text reads 'Are you there God? It's me, Margaret. study Blue'.

We Are Water Protectors
by Carole Lindstrom

Little House on the Prairie
by Laura Ingalls Wilder

If you think this program would benefit your child or know of a student who would like to participate, please fill out the form below, and Rachel will be in touch with the next steps.