Remembering Our Roots



You might find it shocking to discover that nearly five years ago this month Everybody Wins! Iowa was still looking for a place to call home. Not until Westminster Presbyterian Church reopened their doors in spring of 2006, after an extensive building renovation, were we able to establish official headquarters in the community. And ever since Westminster graciously offered Everybody Wins! Iowa office space, we have both witnessed the benefits.  





 “We are very happy to partner with Everybody Wins! Iowa,” says Lynda Albaugh, Westminster’s director of mission and justice ministries. “We support their overall mission, promoting literacy and educational goals of Des Moines area schools.”

Without a doubt, all the progress Everybody Wins! Iowa has made in the Des Moines community could not have been made possible without Westminster. That’s why this month, we would like to acknowledge and humbly thank Westminster Presbyterian Church for all that they have done for the Everybody Wins! Iowa program. By providing us with a stable place to call home, they are also playing a significant role in increasing children’s prospects for success in school and in life.  

Everybody Wins! Iowa News

Hello Supporters,

I'm writing to announce my resignation as Executive Director of Everybody Wins! Iowa effective June 30th.

The Board of Directors has started the search for the next Executive Director.  I'll be working with the Board of Directors, as well as my successor, to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.  If you would like more information about the position and the application process, please email statedirector@everybodywinsiowa.org.  Applications are due May 4th.

Thank you for working hard for Everybody Wins! Iowa and those touched by our programs and services.  I look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts over the next couple months, and am excited to work with the Board of Directors to bring aboard someone who will continue Everybody Wins! Iowa's great momentum!
Thank you,

Tyler Weig

Building Meaningful Relationships in the Community

Since beginning in 2002, Everybody Wins! Iowa has developed many long-lasting, meaningful relationships within the community. We understand that our success, and ultimately Iowa students’ successes, hinge largely on generous, good-hearted relationships with corporations and volunteers alike. Without outside help, our mission to increasing children’s success in school through reading and mentoring experiences would not be possible.

For many years, the Qwest Foundation, an organization focused on enriching the lives of children by supporting solid pre K-12 educational programs, have partnered with Everybody Wins! Iowa in an effort to increase literacy rates in Iowa schools. In only two years, the Qwest Foundation has already kindly donated handfuls of volunteers and thousands of dollars in funding to our cause. And as of April 2011, Everybody Wins! Iowa is proud to accept an additional $5,000 grant from the Qwest Foundation.

Awards are generally granted to non-profit organizations that generate high impact and measurable results through community-based programs, and support programs and initiatives that build lasting value for communities. Similar to the Qwest Foundation, Everybody Wins! Iowa believes that “educating children is the cornerstone for building strong and enlightened communities”.

Without generous grants from corporations like Qwest, Everybody Wins! Iowa would not be able to educate Iowa’s children on the importance of reading. With that in mind, we are always looking to build and foster new relationships within the community. If you know of any corporations or persons that share in the belief that educating Iowa’s youth is the foundation for building a better future, please urge them to contact us at statedirector@everybodywinsiowa.org We can’t do this alone!

Ready....Set......Read!

Reading is always fun, but remember sometimes you just have to get your student excited to read.  Simply starting to read a book doesn’t always garner excitement so here are a few tips on what to do before you start reading.  

1. Play a simple game: “Tic- Tac- Toe,” “Hangman,” “I Spy”, or  “20 Questions”
2. Read a poem or a silly story to break the ice. 
3. Draw a picture of one of the characters from the book's cover.  Ask what they think the character is going to be like when they read the book. 
4. Discuss what you both think the story is going to be about!

Remember reading is supposed to be fun! Sometimes all it takes is a quick game and you’ll be ready to go!