Wellpoint New Jersey Brings Joy of Reading to Schools Across the State
School auditoriums and multi-purpose rooms across New Jersey were filled with joy and anticipation this past spring as Wellpoint New Jersey launched its highly anticipated Read Across New Jersey 2025 initiative. The campaign brought communities together to celebrate literacy and highlight the importance of reading in early childhood education.
The Read Across New Jersey 2025 initiative centers on a series of read-along events held in schools and community spaces throughout the state. During each event, children had the opportunity to listen to engaging stories read aloud by community leaders, educators, and special guests. These interactive experiences aimed to make reading fun and accessible for all students.
A key feature of the program was its commitment to providing children with free books to help build their personal home libraries. By putting books directly into the hands of young readers, Wellpoint New Jersey sought to bridge literacy gaps and empower students with tools for lifelong learning.
The initiative officially kicked off with a festive launch event in Paterson, New Jersey. As covered in the April issue of The Positive Community magazine, the Paterson event set the tone for a month of literacy-focused celebrations, drawing enthusiastic participation from students, parents, and local officials alike.
Following the success of the Paterson launch, Wellpoint New Jersey expanded the initiative with a series of Read-A-Loud events throughout the spring. These events were hosted in cities across the state, including Newark, Trenton, Passaic, Camden, New Brunswick, Garfield, and Bloomfield. Each location brought its own unique energy and community spirit to the celebration of reading.
Local leaders and surprise guests played a vital role in each event, using their platforms to promote the value of literacy. Their participation helped reinforce the message that reading is not only an essential skill but also a joyful and empowering activity for young minds.
The month-long campaign culminated in a lively closing event at Franklin Elementary School in Bloomfield. The grand finale drew an impressive crowd and marked a powerful conclusion to the statewide initiative.
Among the special guests in attendance were New Jersey State Senator Britnee Timberlake and Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia, both of whom spoke passionately about the importance of education and community support. Their presence underscored the bipartisan and cross-sector backing the initiative received.
Also making a memorable appearance was none other than Batman, thrilling students with his surprise visit. The iconic superhero encouraged children to be heroes in their own right—through reading, kindness, and curiosity.
Adding further excitement to the event, Harlem Globetrotter Latif “Jet” Rivers, a native of Elizabeth, New Jersey, read from his children’s book My Home and Where I’m From. His story touched on themes of identity, pride, and belonging, offering students an inspiring message about embracing who they are and where they come from.
In total, the 2025 Read Across New Jersey initiative distributed more than 5,000 books to students across the state. Each book served as a symbol of opportunity and imagination, and each student was left with a reminder that their stories matter, too.
This impactful initiative reaffirms Wellpoint New Jersey’s ongoing commitment to literacy, education, and building stronger, healthier communities. For more than 30 years, Wellpoint has proudly served NJ FamilyCare members and continues to support initiatives that uplift families, promote equity, and invest in the next generation of leaders.
