The Story

My name is Emily Conrad and I am the founder of Need To Read Book Club. I am seventeen years old and will be entering Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC in 2009. I want to thank you for your interest in my organization and hope that you will be able to catch its vision of helping kids make a difference in their communities... through reading!

In 2004, I created the Need To Read Book Club at my school to encourage my own personal reading. By the middle of the year, I felt a need to serve and make a difference in my community. My fellow book club members felt the same and the "Reading for Others" Service Project began. That year, Need To Read Book Club experienced tremendous success as club members read over 24,000 pages, earned over $2,400, and personally distributed more than 400 news books to children who received meals at the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen. The smiles on the recipients' faces made a profound impact on all of us members. Although I have graduated from high school, I see more than ever that it is very important to combine middle school kids' need to read with their need to serve.

Five years after its creation, Need To Read Book Club members have distributed more than $17,500 worth of books. My organization has recently partnered with Spartanburg School District One, who will act as our model and charter district. Over the past few years, my organization has proven that all kids, regardless of their socio-economic situation or reading level, can become enthusiastic readers and community leaders.

Through my 2-in-1 incentive program, kids have grown in character, confidence, and compassion while at the same time being a part of a book club that promotes reading application and "big picture" ideas. I know that every community will benefit from kids who exemplify the above qualities, which is why I want to make Need To Read Book Club a national program.

If you would like to support Need To Read Book Club with a contribution of money, talents, or time, please click

Get Involved!

Happy Reading!
Emily Conrad

Club Accomplishments:

August 2009: Spartanburg School District One partners with NTR and becomes the charter school district as NTR grows nationwide.

May 2009: Mabry Middle School Chapter earned $1,676.37 through the "Reading for Others" Service Project. Click here to view a slide show of the club's book-buying event at Barnes & Noble. Click here to view slide show of the club's book distribution at the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen.

May 2009: Need To Read Book Club was honored in Washington, D.C. as the founder received the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. A presentation was made to Former First Lady Laura Bush, SC Senator Jim DeMint, and SC Senator Lindsey Graham.

June 2008: Anchor House Chapter earned $816.07 through the "Reading for Others" Service Project. Click here to view a slide show of the club's book distribution at the Ellen Hines Smith Girls' Home.

May 2008: Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary School Chapter earned $907.67 through the "Reading for Others" Service Project. Click here to view a slide show of the club's book distribution at the Spartanburg Children's Shelter.

May 2008: Mabry Middle School Chapter earned $1,500.00 through the "Reading for Others" Service Project. Click here to view a slide show of the club's book distribution at the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen.

February 2008: Need to Read Book Club teamed up with the Spartanburg Repertory Company to encourage reading and classical music among at-risk kids. Local church choirs and choruses, area businesses and organizations as well as individuals donated money to buy books about classical composers and tickets to the SRC's children's opera, Harmoonia, at the Chapman Cultural Center.

January 2008: A new chapter of the Need to Read Book Club was started at the Anchor House, long-term housing for teen girls, at the Spartanburg Children's Shelter.

Fall 2007, a new chapter of the Need to Read Book Club was started at Mabry Middle School in Inman, SC.

July 2007: The Founding Club Chapter earned $481.60 through the "Giving Tree" fundraiser at Chick-fil-A Hillcrest. Click here to view a slide show of the club's Giving Tree presentation and book distribution to the Boys & Girls Club at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church summer camp.

May 2007: Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary School Chapter earned $1,334.00 through the "Reading for Others" Service Project. Click here to view a slide show of the club's book distribution at the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen.

May 2007: The Boys & Girls Club Chapter at Carver Junior High School earned $1,049.31 through the "Reading for Others" Service Project. Click here to view a slide show of the club's book distribution at the Spartanburg Children's Shelter.

November/December 2006: Under the direction of Valerie Barnet, the Boys & Girls Club Chapter performed a Reader's Theatre of A Christmas Carol at Spartanburg's Dickens of a Christmas, Mary H. Wright Elementary School BGC, Summit Hills Retirement Community, and for Symtech's Christmas party at the Piedmont Club. Click here to view slide show of the Reader's Theatre presentation.

Fall 2006, two new chapters of the Need to Read Book Club were started. The first of these clubs includes 30 members at the Boys & Girls Club of the Upstate at Carver Junior High School in Spartanburg, S.C. The second of these clubs includes 15 sixth graders at Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary School in Campobello, S.C.

The SDS chapter of the NEED TO READ BOOK CLUB, now named the Spartanburg Founding Chapter, held the first "Summer Reading Bash" Book Fair at Barnes and Noble Booksellers June 2nd - 4th, 2006 to raise money for new summer reading books for children at the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen and Boys & Girls Club of the Upstate. The event was a huge success! Customers donated 162 new books valuing over $1,000. Another $1,600 was raised through a percentage of sales at the event. The SDS book club distributed over 600 books to children in need throughout the summer. To view "Summer Reading Bash" Photo Scrapbook click here!

In the spring of 2006, the SDS chapter of the book club raised over $2,000.00 and bought and distributed hundreds of books to children at the Soup Kitchen. Mayor Bill Barnet and Clifford the Big Red Dog helped distribute books, making the event extra special.

In the spring of 2005, The Spartanburg Day School (SDS) chapter of the NEED TO READ BOOK CLUB raised over $2,400.00, bought over 400 books from Barnes & Noble Booksellers, and distributed them to children in need at The Spartanburg Soup Kitchen.