NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 3, 2026) – For the seventh consecutive year, Nashville Soccer Club is partnering with Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) to offer its Kickstart to Reading program, an initiative that helps parents, educators and schools support local elementary students meet literacy goals. In partnership with the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, Kickstart to Reading will serve a record 22 Middle Tennessee schools and thousands of third grade students in 2026.
“We’re proud to continue our partnership with MNPS and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to inspire a love of reading among Nashville students,” said Brandon Hill, Nashville SC’s Head of Community Engagement. “By delivering an engaging and rewarding program, we aim to support teachers in their mission to make reading something students look forward to.”
Founded to help Nashville students meet Tennessee’s third grade reading standards, Kickstart to Reading aims to support literacy goals among students through a nine-week reading challenge that rewards participants with incentives such us Nashville SC merchandise, virtual meetings with players and tickets to Nashville SC matches. Since its inception in 2020, Kickstart to Reading has served 26 schools and helped 5,105 students achieve 26,978 hours of reading.
“Kickstart to Reading continues to show how powerful it is when community partners unite behind literacy and education,” said Denine Torr, Executive Director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “We’re inspired by the enthusiasm Nashville students bring to this program and are proud to support MNPS educators as they help students grow as confident, engaged readers. The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is honored to stand alongside Nashville SC in championing opportunities for Nashville youth and we look forward to seeing the continued impact this program will bring in 2026.”
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation first partnered with Nashville SC in 2024 to join efforts in encouraging the love of reading for Tennessee youth. With the belief that everyone deserves an equal opportunity to receive a basic education, the Foundation awards literacy grants each year to non-profit organizations, schools and libraries within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has awarded more than $275 million to adult, family, summer and youth literacy more than 23.8 million individuals to improve their lives through literacy and education.
Those interested in supporting the Kickstart to Reading program presented by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and other Nashville SC community efforts can visit www.nashvillesc.com/community.
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