Our Founders
Read to Succeed’s innovative program was founded in 2008 by Ralph and Barbara Papitto to address Providence’s academic achievement gap head-on. Ralph and Barbara knew that reading was the path to success for students. They attributed their achievements in school and business to their early love of reading.
By encouraging the crucial activity of summer reading, the Read to Succeed Summer Reading Program helps prevent students from falling behind and encourages them, through scholarships, to focus on attending college. This remarkable journey has thwarted the summer learning loss most prevalent among low-income children and has evolved to a level where reading skills are now gained over the summer.
The first summer reading program took place in 2008. Since then, Read to Succeed has opened over 1,200 accounts, which now have more than $3.5 million in scholarships ready to help pay for college. In 2025, 613 students received 3,678 free books, and 422 students completed the program. That means Read to Succeed awarded $422,000 in scholarships.
Did You Know?
A study has shown that a $500 savings for college can increase the likelihood of college enrollment from 49% to 72%.
Our Goals
Reduce
Promote
Provide
Create
Reduce or eliminate the summer learning loss by reading over the summer.
Promote recreational reading as a source of relaxation, learning, and fun.
Provide free books to you and your families to keep and share.
Create a pathway to college through scholarships at an early age.
How it Works
01.
During the summer,
Read to Succeed enables low-income Providence students to maintain their learning momentum. The powerful incentive is a $1,000 college scholarship award each year, for up to six years.
02.
03.
Read to Succeed purchases books and delivers the books in a Read to Succeed bag, before summer vacation with volunteer support from Cox Communications.
After reading each book, students take an online comprehension test through the Accelerated Reader Program.
Completion Award
Students who pass all six tests are awarded a $1,000 scholarship in a Read to Succeed-sponsored Rhode Island CollegeBound Saver account, the state’s 529 college savings program.
Making A Difference
Achievement Gap
Over 1,200
students have completed
Read to Succeed.
Scholarships
Read to Succeed has awarded over
$3.5 million in scholarships.
Summer
Learning Loss
Kids can lose up to 28% of their reading skills over summer. Read to Succeed stops this slide by keeping kids reading and learning.
Enrollment
Nearly 600
students
enrolled in 2026.
Distribution
Read to Succeed has distributed 32,244 books to partner schools.
Meet the Team
Co-Founder and Chairwoman
Barbara Papitto
Driven by her passion for knowledge, Barbara earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting from Bryant University. For the past forty years, Barbara has dedicated her time to nonprofit organizations and causes that make an impact throughout Rhode Island. In 2008, Barbara co-founded Read to Succeed with her late husband Ralph. Barbara is actively engaged in all aspects of Read to Succeed. Each year, Barbara and her granddaughter Alex order all books and hand pack the Read to Succeed book bags for delivery to participating students.
Executive Director
David Guertin, Jr.
David grew up in Bristol, Rhode Island and graduated from Rhode Island College. Since 1990, he has been involved in nonprofit fundraising and management with a diverse range of organizations. David has extensive nonprofit expertise including museums, land and ocean conversation, charter schools, and Boys & Girls Clubs. David joined Read to Succeed in 2012 and serves as the Executive Director.
Program Director
Megan Fogg
Megan grew up in New Hampshire and stayed in Rhode Island after graduating from Roger Williams University. Megan’s early career was focused on historic preservation, public relations, and membership. Later, Megan shifted her focus to fundraising and began working with Boys & Girls Clubs, sailing programs, charter schools, and veteran organizations. Megan joined Read to Succeed in 2012 and works with students from their initial year of the summer reading program through utilizing their scholarships for college.
Board of Advisors
Tim Draper
Navigant Credit Union
Elisabeth Fuller
Cox Communications
Adam Gordon, P.E.
Vistra Group
Manchester Street Station
Rose Mary Grant
Highlander Charter School Principal (Retired)
David Guertin, Jr.
Vantage in Philanthropy
Linda Jane Maaia
Maaia Communications
James Myers, M.D.
Rhode Island & Miriam Hospitals
Edward Pieroni, Esq.
Edward Power
Charles Schwab & Co, Inc.
Robert Ricci
Beacon Bank
J.L. Singleton
Providence Performing Arts Center (Retired)
John Tarantino, Esq.
Adler Pollock & Sheehan, P.C.
Michael Voccola, Esq.
The Procaccianti Group
David Wegrzyn
Bryant University
Barbara Papitto, Chairwoman
The Papitto Foundation