Read All The Wade Contest

In the fall of 2015, Wade Smith initiated a remarkable initiative: the Read All the Wade contest. This ingenious competition was designed with a singular purpose: to ignite a passion for reading among elementary school students. The contest set a lofty challenge for all grade levels at Wallace Elementary in Dallas: to collectively read twice as many books as Wade's height in inches—a remarkable 152 books per classroom. The prize awaiting the winning grade and classroom was nothing short of extraordinary—a special appearance and a celebratory party with Wade himself during his 2016 charity weekend, aptly named Wade's Weekend.

The Read All The Wade contest was not just a competition; it was a celebration of literacy and the power of books. It encouraged young students to explore the world of literature, discover new stories, and embark on exciting reading adventures. The contest served as a beacon of inspiration, motivating children to go beyond their reading limits and reach for new heights in their literary journey.

In January 2017, The Wade Smith Foundation (WSF) expanded the horizons of the Read All The Wade contest by partnering with Half Price Books to bring this reading extravaganza to the Houston area. This expansion was timely, coinciding with the festivities leading up to Super Bowl LI. The goal was ambitious yet heartwarming: to have students in the participating schools collectively read a staggering 25,000 books by the end of the competition, with an incredible 6,000 books generously donated by Half Price Books.

The winning school, Kennedy Elementary in Houston, emerged as the embodiment of dedication and a love for reading. Their achievement was celebrated with a grand Reading with the Pros event held at their campus. This event featured appearances from NFL veterans such as Chris Myers (Houston Texans) and Dante Wesley (Carolina Panthers), along with prominent figures like rapper Bun B, professional poker player Maria Ho, Olympic gold medalist Kami Craig, and WNBA veterans Chantelle Anderson and Chameka Scott.

The Read All The Wade contest, through its Dallas and Houston editions, has become a symbol of the transformative power of reading. It exemplifies the belief that books are not just stories on pages but gateways to imagination, knowledge, and personal growth. Wade Smith's commitment to fostering literacy and education shines brightly through this initiative, inspiring young minds to reach for the stars through the magic of reading.