The Hillsborough Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program celebrated the success of its spring Reading Challenge on July 11, recognizing families who read nearly 30,000 books with their preschool-aged children.
Families gathered with HIPPY staff at USF's Marshall Student Center to celebrate the achievement and honor the program's top three readers, along with HIPPY team members who work directly with participating families.
The Reading Challenge encouraged families across Hillsborough County to make literacy part of their daily routine. From February through May, families were asked to read together each day and record the books they completed.
Adeline, along with her father, Camilo, placed first in the reading challenge after reading 1,372 books.
A total of 149 HIPPY families read 29,789 books during the challenge, averaging about 200 books per family.
The success of this year's challenge highlights the impact of family engagement, and the role parents play in creating positive reading experiences at home.
"This challenge was about much more than counting books," said Brenda Brinson, program director for Hillsborough HIPPY. "It was about creating meaningful moments between parents and their children, building a love of reading, and helping families establish daily routines that support school readiness. We are incredibly proud of every family who participated."
The Hillsborough HIPPY team also recognized the dedication of its home visitors, who encouraged families each week and provided ongoing support throughout the challenge. Their commitment helped motivate families to meet and exceed their reading goals.
To celebrate the milestone, participating families received up to 10 new children's books and were encouraged to continue reading together every day.
"Every story strengthens language development, sparks imagination, and creates lasting memories," Brinson said.
Congratulations to the top three winners:
- First place: Marina and Adeline — 1,372 books read
- Second place: Sarah and Mikaela — 1,335 books read
- Third place: Tatiana and Josephine — 1,334 books read
Hillsborough HIPPY services are funded by the Children's Board of Hillsborough County.