The Red Wings for Reading Classroom Challenge is a statewide literacy initiative designed to inspire a love of reading among Michigan’s youngest learners. Celebrated annually during National Reading Month (March), the program engages 400 K–5 classrooms and reaches over 9,000 students across the state.
This incentive-based initiative uses the excitement of hockey, classroom competition, and reading achievement to make literacy fun, memorable, and impactful.
The Detroit Red Wings, in partnership with United Way for Southeastern Michigan, invite you to help close the literacy gap in local communities through the Red Wings for Reading – My Home Library program. This initiative provides elementary school students in book deserts across Metro Detroit with a personal set of five high-quality books—fueling their imaginations and academic futures.
The Detroit Red Wings are promoting access to books and encouraging literacy across Michigan through Red Wings-branded Little Free Libraries. Two libraries have already been donated—one at Central Grade School in Traverse City and another at Chrysler Elementary in Detroit—each stocked with hockey-themed books and player favorites. The team is excited to continue this impactful partnership throughout the year.
Just minutes from Little Caesars Arena, Chrysler Elementary—Detroit Public Schools’ smallest school—is being supported by the Red Wings through the Reading Buddies program. During National Reading Month in March, Red Wings employees will visit the school weekly to read to K–5 students and surprise them with a copy of the book to take home. It’s one more way the Red Wings are helping build home libraries and inspire a love of reading in the community.
