Our Nation Has a Reading Crisis
Who We are
Boon is a 501(c)(3) philanthropic education enterprise dedicated to ending America’s reading crisis. It collects funds from the public to support two educational programs, both operating outside the traditional education system and developed through extensive expertise and knowledge. These programs target the root cause of the crisis—a shortage and accessibility of teachers trained in structured reading instruction methods grounded in the science of reading (SOR).
What We Do
SOR (Science of Reading) Teacher Training Scholarships
Boon Donors fund free SOR training to individual K-12 public school teachers through Boon’s 12 top-tier, expert training partners across America. Boon’s partners provide coursework and practicums for every level of interest, from childcare providers to expert teacher trainers. Their combined training capacity and expertise surpass that of all graduate programs combined.
Pledge Literacy Interventions
Boon Donors fund free SOR instruction for individual low-income students failing in reading. This program operates in 12 states, exclusively employs highly trained, expert Wilson© Level I and II teachers whose training enables them to improve the reading performance of most learners rapidly.
Why We Do It
Reading is not just a learning issue. The inability of our students to read successfully is directly linked to low self-esteem, school absenteeism, dropping out, juvenile crime, incarceration, ongoing poverty, hunger, poor health, homelessness, and a weakened democracy. Boon believes all children have the right to learn to read.
Why the Science of Reading
SOR is a high-standard body of research conducted by scientists from many disciplines over the past five decades. It helps us understand the skills and processes needed to read, and it provides evidence on how to teach all students to read. Compared to alternative methods of reading instruction, structured language grounded in the science of reading genuinely works with 95% of students.
VIM Magazine
Become a VIM Magazine reader with a free subscription to our digital publication.
“It is a special privilege to share the background stories of people, institutions, and events in the literacy field, dedicated to ensuring that all teachers and students have the opportunity to understand and apply instruction based on the science of reading. It’s great fun and a joyous experience to meet, know, and report on the incredible individuals who bring their expertise, experience, and, most importantly, passion to their literacy missions.”
— Henry Sinclair Sherrill, principal founder, Boon.
Your personal gift will help fund teacher training scholarships or free tutorial interventions for low-income students.
Boon’s online giving platform allows contributors across the country to come together and tackle our reading crisis by supporting individual teachers and students impacted by a broken education system—not “some day,” but “now.”
100% of donations to Boon’s two education programs go straight to those programs.
BOON PHILANTHROPY INC.
A 501(c)3 Public Charity
© 2025 · Boon Donors