Backpack Challenge Readathon

The MREF Backpack Challenge Readathon is an industry fundraiser that will involve your entire family! Get ready for back-to-school season – and help underprivileged children in the U.S. – just by reading books.

Our goal is to send hundreds of backpacks full of essential supplies to students in need! 

Individuals: Join a book club to track your minutes reading, compare your progress with others on the leaderboard, share photos – and open a good book for a good cause. 

Sponsors: Become a sponsor to set up a book club and invite your employees to join! Choose a book or theme to help spark discussion among your club or encourage everyone to pick up their favorite book. Email Alana Gates at alana@mrgivesback.org for more information.

Who can participate?
Anyone – the more the merrier. Bring your kids, friends, family, and bookish neighbors.

Does listening to audio books count towards my reading minutes?
Yes! Just be sure to track those minutes under the audiobooks category when submitting your results.

Can I join any book club?
You are welcome to join any club when you sign up. If your company is not sponsoring a club, please feel free to join the MREF club (or any other)!

Will I have to verify my results?
No; the readathon operates on the honor system. We trust everyone to read responsibly!

How do I log minutes?

1. Once signed in, click your profile bubble on the top right of the menu and navigate to Profile.
2. Find the Backpack Challenge Readathon box – on the righthand list of blue links, click Submit Virtual Results.
3. If you need help troubleshooting or want to explore other logging options, visit this tutorial.

How do I upload photos?

1. On the main menu, click Photos.
2. Click Add Photos to Your Album.
3. Click Upload Images and choose your photo(s).
4. When you're finished selecting photos, click I'm Finished Uploading.

What happens to proceeds from the readathon?
In partnership with the Kids In Need Foundation, proceeds from the Backpack Challenge will fund backpacks full of essential school supplies to underserved kids in the U.S.

I forgot to log my minutes for a couple days – do they still count?
They do! Simply change the date to the correct day when you submit your virtual results – you can choose a day that has already passed.

How long after the readathon do I have to log my minutes?
If readers miss some days, they will have until September 3 at 11:59 p.m. ET to retroactively submit results. Remember – all challenge results are on the honor system!

The readathon has already started – is it too late to join?
It's never too late! We welcome any reader up until the last day of the challenge.

We welcome your 2026 sponsorship for the Backpack Challenge Readathon! All sponsors get a book club and you can invite your employees, clients, friends, and family to join your club in logging their minutes reading – either a book of their choice or one for the club. Participation for employees is free, though they can make a donation to the effort if they’d like.

Together we hope to raise $18,000 to send 720 backpacks of essential school supplies to kids in need!

Contact Alana Gates at alana@mrgivesback.org to sign up and sponsor.

2026 Sponsor Levels:

Patron of Pages – 100 backpacks ($2,500)

• Create company book club to participate and donate
• Company logo on MREF and readathon website
• Prominent position in thank you ad in Quirk’s magazine following challenge
• Social media profile on MREF LinkedIn
• Opportunity to be included in challenge communications
   

Storyteller – 40 backpacks ($1,000)

• Create company book club to participate and donate
• Company logo on MREF and readathon website
• Prominent position in thank you ad in Quirk’s magazine following challenge
• Individual social media thank you
• Opportunity to be included in challenge communications
   

Bookworm – 20 backpacks ($500)

• Create company book club to participate and donate
• Company logo on MREF and readathon website
• Logo in thank you ad in Quirk’s magazine following challenge
• Opportunity to be included in challenge communications
   

Chapter Champion – 10 backpacks ($250)

• Create company book club to participate and donate
• Company logo on MREF and readathon website
• Name listed in thank you ad in Quirk’s magazine following challenge
• Opportunity to be included in challenge communications