THE STATE OF MIGHTY WRITERS

10/22/2026

Dear Mighty Writers Community, Partners, and Supporters,

Six weeks into our organizational furlough, I am encouraged to share meaningful progress in our efforts to reopen programs, restore employment, strengthen community partnerships, and build a more sustainable Mighty Writers.

While the challenges we face remain significant, we are taking deliberate steps toward recovery. Beyond restoring services, our focus is on building a stronger financial and operational foundation to sustain our mission for years to come.

As part of this effort, we are exploring partnerships with the Nonprofit Repositioning Fund, Nonprofit Finance Fund, and Compass Pro Bono Consulting to strengthen financial management, diversify funding, improve business continuity, and develop long-term sustainability strategies.

These efforts reflect our commitment not simply to reopen our doors, but to ensure that Mighty Writers emerges stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to serve the children and families who depend on us.

Camden: A Milestone Worth Celebrating

I am thrilled to announce that Mighty Writers has fully restored programming and full-time staffing across our Camden locations!

This includes two after-school literacy academies, summer camp programming, food distribution five days per week, and the return of six full-time employees.

This remarkable milestone was made possible by an extraordinary $563,000 investment over eight months from EMR through the EMR Camden Community Benefits Fund—the largest corporate grant in Mighty Writers' history.

We are deeply grateful to EMR for recognizing the value of our work and investing in the children and families of Camden. This partnership demonstrates what is possible when corporate philanthropy and community organizations come together to create meaningful, lasting impact.

Our hope is to build on this momentum and inspire similar investments across Philadelphia, Kennett Square, and Atlantic City.

Philadelphia: New Partnerships and Opportunities

After seven years of serving families within Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) communities, our partnership is coming to an end as PHA explores other service providers. As a result, we will not resume programming at our former PHA locations, a transition that has unfortunately resulted in four staff layoffs.

While this marks the end of an important chapter, our commitment to Philadelphia's children and families remains unchanged. We are actively pursuing new partnerships and locations throughout West, North, South, and Southwest Philadelphia to restore access to literacy and educational enrichment.

We are already making progress:

● Mighty Writers on the Road: Through partnerships with the Free Library of Philadelphia and Upper Darby Police Department, we are expanding free literacy and educational enrichment opportunities in accessible community spaces.

● Northeast Philadelphia: In partnership with Unique Dreams and It Takes a Village to Feed One Child, after-school programming is scheduled to begin October 19, marking an important milestone in restoring comprehensive educational services.

● El Futuro – South Philadelphia: We are exploring a new community partner and location for our Sixth Street programming while remaining committed to bilingual literacy, educational enrichment, and support for immigrant and migrant families.

Kennett Square and Atlantic City: Continuing Our Commitment

In Kennett Square, we are pursuing new funding and community partnerships to restore literacy and after-school programming. In the meantime, food distribution has resumed twice weekly through our partnership with the Chester County Food Bank.

In Atlantic City, food distribution continues twice weekly as we work to secure sustainable funding and identify community partners to restore educational programming.

While recovery looks different across our communities, our goal remains the same: to reconnect children and families with the educational opportunities and essential resources they deserve.

Rebuilding Our Team

Our employees are the heart of Mighty Writers, and restoring employment remains one of our most important priorities.

Of the 26 employees affected by our September 1 furlough:

● 11 employees have returned: Six full-time in Camden, three full-time in Philadelphia, and two part-time in Kennett Square.

● 6 employees were laid off due to site transitions or the loss of programming partnerships. ● 3 employees voluntarily resigned during the furlough period.

● 6 employees remain on furlough as we continue securing resources to restore programming.

We recognize the personal and professional challenges these disruptions have created and are deeply grateful to our team for their resilience, patience, and dedication. Every restored position represents progress toward rebuilding the capacity needed to serve our communities.

Food Distribution: Meeting Families' Most Immediate Needs

Even as we navigate organizational restructuring, addressing food insecurity remains central to our mission. We know that children cannot fully thrive academically when their families are struggling to meet basic needs.

Thanks to the generosity of our partners, volunteers, and supporters, we are continuing or restoring food distribution across our communities:

● Camden: Fully restored, operating five days per week.

● Kennett Square: Operating twice weekly in partnership with the Chester County Food Bank. ● Atlantic City: Continuing twice weekly distribution.

● West Philadelphia: Our Mighty Market in Mantua is scheduled to resume twice-weekly distribution beginning next week through the end of 2026.

These efforts are especially critical as families continue navigating food insecurity and limited access to essential resources. We remain committed to meeting these needs while rebuilding our broader educational programs.

Help Us Write the Next Chapter

Camden's recovery is proof of what is possible when partners invest in a shared mission. Now, we need your help to bring that same hope and opportunity to families across our other communities.

We are calling on businesses, foundations, philanthropic leaders, community organizations, and individuals to help us reopen programs, restore employment, and sustain essential services throughout Philadelphia, Kennett Square, and Atlantic City.

There are many ways to make a difference:

● Invest in our programs: Financial contributions, corporate sponsorships, and multi-year commitments will directly support reopening and long-term sustainability.

● Build strategic partnerships: Connect us with organizations that can provide program space, professional expertise, or collaborative opportunities.

● Volunteer your time and talent: Support literacy programs, food distribution, and community engagement.

● Expand our network: Introduce us to potential donors, funders, corporate partners, and community leaders who believe in our mission.

Our vision extends beyond recovery. We want to build a Mighty Writers that is financially resilient, deeply connected to its communities, and positioned to create measurable, lasting change.

Every contribution, partnership, and connection brings us one step closer to welcoming more students back through our doors.

Join Us November 20: The Mighty Literacy Bash!

As we celebrate 17 years of Mighty Writers, I am excited to invite you to our Annual Mighty Literacy Bash on November 20, 2026!

This year's theme, Writing Our Next Chapter, carries special meaning. It is a celebration of our resilience, our progress, and the people who continue to believe in the power of literacy to transform lives.

We look forward to bringing together our donors, partners, volunteers, and friends to celebrate what we have accomplished and share our vision for the future.

Now, more than ever, your presence and support matter.

Ticket information is attached, and we encourage you to join us, invite your networks, and help make this celebration a powerful step toward Mighty Writers' next chapter.

Together, we can reopen doors, restore opportunities, and ensure that the children and families who depend on Mighty Writers continue to have a place to learn, grow, and thrive.

Our story is far from over. Together, we're writing the next chapter.

In Service,