A Decade of Literacy, Leadership, and What Comes Next
By Ted Hoskinson
Founder, Roots and Wings
Ten years ago, Roots and Wings began with a simple but urgent belief: every child deserves the ability to read, learn, and thrive—and every educator deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated.
What began as a grassroots literacy effort has grown into one of Palm Beach County’s most impactful education-focused nonprofits. Today, as we mark ten years of service, measurable outcomes and community investment, I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come—and deeply energized by what lies ahead.
This February, we celebrate our 10th anniversary with Roots and Wings Goes Hollywood, a red-carpet-inspired fundraiser in Downtown Delray Beach. It will bring together supporters, educators, advocates, and community leaders for a night that honors both our legacy and the momentum that continues to drive our work forward.
This evening is about far more than celebration. It’s about recommitting to a mission that has proven year after year that early literacy changes lives.
A Decade of Impact That Starts With Reading
Since founding Roots and Wings in 2016, we’ve remained singularly focused on improving literacy outcomes at the most critical stage of learning: the early elementary years.
Through Project UpLift, we provide free, small-group after-school tutoring primarily for students in grades 1–3 who are reading one to two grade levels below proficiency. The goal is clear and research-backed: help children reach grade-level reading by the end of third grade, when the trajectory of long-term academic success is set.
Over the past decade, that commitment has grown into partnerships with 20 local schools, the engagement of hundreds of educators and volunteers, and direct support for approximately 1,600 students across Palm Beach County.
Equally core to our mission are the Above and Beyond Awards, which honor exceptional teachers and school staff chosen by their peers. These awards recognize not only instructional excellence, but the compassion, leadership, and dedication that educators bring to their students and school communities every single day.
What started as a small grassroots effort has truly become a community-wide movement. Over the last ten years, we’ve expanded our reach, strengthened our programs, and touched the lives of hundreds of students and educators across Palm Beach County. This anniversary is about honoring that journey and coming together to fuel the next decade of impact.
Celebrating the Past—While Investing in the Future
Our 10th Anniversary Goes Hollywood fundraiser, taking place February 24 at Good Night John Boy, is intentionally designed to reflect both joy and purpose. Guests are encouraged to embrace creativity—dressing as characters from iconic films and musicals—while directly supporting the literacy and teacher recognition programs that define Roots and Wings.
Proceeds from the evening will help ensure that Project UpLift and the Above and Beyond Awards continue to grow—reaching more schools, more students, and more educators in the years ahead.
This milestone year also reflects a broader evolution for our organization. In 2025, we launched our Legacy Giving initiative, giving supporters new ways to invest in long-term, sustainable literacy impact. It’s a reflection of what I’ve come to understand deeply over the last decade: literacy advocacy is not a one-year campaign—it’s a generational commitment.
As we enter our second decade, our vision extends beyond scale alone. We are focused on deepening outcomes, strengthening school partnerships, and building a lasting ecosystem of support for both students and teachers.
Why This Moment Matters
Palm Beach County continues to grow and so are the demands placed on schools, educators, and families. Early literacy remains one of the most powerful predictors of future academic success, economic mobility, and lifelong opportunity.
For ten years, Roots and Wings has shown what’s possible when a community rallies around that truth. This anniversary is both a thank-you and a call-to-action. It’s an opportunity to reflect on what we’ve accomplished together and to play a direct role in shaping what comes next.
Tickets for Roots and Wings Goes Hollywood are limited and expected to sell out. Every ticket purchased, every sponsorship secured, and every donation made fuels the next chapter of literacy advocacy in Palm Beach County.
After ten years of impact, the mission is clear. The work continues. And the future is being written, one reader at a time.
Join us. Celebrate with us. Invest in the next ten years of Roots and Wings.
