Percy's friends blue and yellow book icon illustration

How can we support you?

Community Resources and Reading Programs for Elementary Students

Why Focus on Literacy?

There are so many obstacles and challenges in life… so why do we choose to focus on literacy?

We prioritize helping our kids improve their reading skills and comprehension because reading ability is directly correlated to better outcomes both in school and life.

We want to set our kids up for success.

We want to give our kids more than we had.

We want to watch them live out their dreams!

And so much of that starts with reading.

A little girl with two pigtails is reading a baby book in the library. She is sitting in a chair and smiling as she reads.
An elementary school student is sitting on the gray sofa. She has a book in her hands and is wearing blue jeans, white socks and a T-shirt. In front of her is a dog and he is lying down concentrating on what the girl is reading.

We All Work Together

At Percy’s Friends, we take a collaborative approach.

A photo of the city of Sarasota County, Florida, downtown with buildings, waterfront boardwalk

Sarasota County

We’re aligned with the county and school system

The teacher is helping her student to draw with his colors. They are at the elementary school and he is wearing a black t-shirt and green pants

Teachers

We’re willing and able to work directly with your child’s teacher

A woman hugs her daughter and pet with both arms. They are in the park with games and smile at the camera. The mother is sitting on the green grass and the girl is sitting on the woman's legs while dressed in a plaid dress.

Families

Families are at the center of everything we do

How to Get Involved

On top of a wooden table is a board game with giant letters and colored play dough. Around the table are small chairs of different colors and newsprint for interactive activities.

Percy’s Community Connections Program

This is the best place to start if you need specific support or resources to set your entire family up for success. It’s hard to focus on helping your child with their reading homework when there are bigger obstacles or challenges at play.

Community Connections is a customized support program designed to connect your family with the resources you need. There are no obligations or commitments – we just start with a conversation to identify any gaps in support and recommend different governmental and non-profit programs. 

Our team is here to collaborate with you and assist in setting goals and creating a plan for moving forward.

Interested? Simply contact our team and we’ll share more about the program and send you an application.

Books of different types are in the library on a wooden shelf. Above are decorations such as a calendar, a humidifier and a green scissors.

Sherlock’s Book Match Program

Kids are more excited about reading, and more motivated to practice, when they like the books they are reading. And you don’t need a huge library! A small collection of on-level, interesting books is all you need.

Our Book Match Program takes the guesswork out of choosing the right books. We’ll identify your child’s reading level, dig into their unique interests, and make recommendations for books they’ll love!

Interested? Simply contact our team and we’ll share more about the program and send you an application. 

The woman with short black hair is reading a book with her students. They are in the library and the boy is wearing a red T-shirt and the girl next to him is wearing a flowered dress.

Brixton’s Buddies: In-House Tutoring Program

Our evidence-based tutoring combines letter recognition, phonological awareness, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency with the adorable, confidence-building experience of reading to well-trained dogs.

Struggling to read can make children feel self-conscious and embarrassed. But dogs don’t judge them! They make for a warm, comfortable reading partner. 

Eligible students will receive tutoring and lots of reading practice with our trained dogs in a classroom setting. It’s amazing to see the growth they can make and the confidence they can build in this safe, welcoming environment! 

Interested? Simply contact our team and we’ll share more about the program and send you an application.

SUPPORT OUR MISSION!

Make a Monetary donation.

We need your help to continue this important work. Please consider making a donation to our organization today.

We will provide you with a 501(c)3 donation receipt for tax purposes.

DONATE NOW
Make a lasting impact with your financial support. Your donation to Percy's Friends directly fuels our literacy initiatives, empowering children and families.
A white dog is wearing black reading glasses and his head is on a carpet
Percy's friends blue dog with red reading glasses and a bone in his mouth icon illustration

If you have or know a child 12 or under who is reading below grade-level or at risk of falling behind – we’re here to support you. We would love to connect!

Click below to contact us and we’ll help you get started.

Want to Get Involved?

We love volunteers and community supporters! 

It takes a village, and we’re so grateful for everyone who has given time, energy, resources, and love to our students and families. We couldn’t do this work without you.

Want to see how you can support Percy’s Friends? Contact us and let us know you’re interested! Our team will follow up with next steps.