Inspiring Young Readers at BookFest 2026!
From May 26 to June 5, 2026, we hosted our ninth annual BookFest here in Lane County.
Thanks to the collective efforts of local schools, volunteers, community partners, businesses, sponsors, and donors, more than 1,500 local students – across 14 schools in 8 school districts – chose and took home over 7,500 new books to read and enjoy this summer!
BookFest is our annual event to support summer reading. This year, we visited local elementary schools across our county – from Mapleton to Walterville, Eugene-Springfield to South Lane – where K-2 students got to pick out and take home five brand new, popular, age-appropriate books to read and keep forever. This helps to build their home libraries and keep their reading skills sharp over the summer break.
Watch a short video of BookFest 2026!
“Every spare minute of the day, students were eager to read their new books. Many wanted to keep them on their desks, and some even carried them around all day, excited to have them close by. It was wonderful to see such enthusiasm for reading!”
Thank you!
This impactful event could not have happened without the support of so many people in our communities:
Thank you to our sponsors at Eugene Education Foundation, Springfield Education Foundation, Gregory-Greenberg Children’s Foundation, IMAJine Foundation, Karsten Tindal Legacy Strong Collaborative, Pacific Cascade Federal Credit Union, SELCO Community Credit Union, Sierra Pacific Foundation, Les Schwab Tire Centers, and The Duck Store.
Thank you to the incredible volunteers who helped us unpack hundreds of boxes, sort thousands of books, stuff hundreds of bags, and help young readers pick out their new favorite books. Over 80 volunteers joined us this year from across our diverse communities, including folks from local credit unions, corporate sponsors, and education foundation sponsors.
We also want to thank YOU for your support and investment in United Way of Lane County. Together, we’re taking action to ensure our local children thrive.
“BookFest is an especially impactful, and joyful, way United Way of Lane County supports young readers. By providing local students in communities across our county with books they’ll love – and that they get to choose themselves – we’re increasing the likelihood that they will spend time reading over the summer. This helps keep children’s reading skills from slipping during the summer break as well as increases their likelihood of reading proficiently by third grade – which is a powerful predictor of graduation rates, lifetime earnings, and children’s overall ability to succeed.”