July 1, 2025

READING PALS: Michelle Curren - One Volunteer Hour a Week That Transforms a Child's Future

READING PALS: Michelle Curren - One Volunteer Hour a Week That Transforms a Child's Future

“If you're a positive adult who can offer support, there's a huge impact. 86% of our kids quadruple their literacy learning rate.” - Michelle Curren

Sometimes the most meaningful journeys in life are unexpected, aren’t they?

When Michelle Curren set out to change the world, she didn’t see herself helping kids learn to read in her hometown of Chico, CA. She thought she’d be actively combatting sex trafficking in other countries.

But through an interesting and unexpected journey, she came to understand that one of the most effective ways to help a child succeed in life is simply to help them read. Today, Michelle is the CEO and Executive Director of Reading Pals, a growing nonprofit devoted to rewriting kids’ stories by helping them tap into the power of reading.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

  • How you can combat donor and volunteer apathy through community
  • The impact of making it easier to volunteer
  • Honest reflections on whether to scale your nonprofit
  • And why it’s important to protect your priorities in leadership

If you’re looking to reframe the way you define a direction and cast vision for the future of your organization, this episode is one you don’t want to miss.

Find our key takeaways and any resources mentioned during the episode in the show notes: www.futurenonprofit.com/michelle-curren