United WE READ, a community initiative dedicated to promoting literacy, is celebrating a $2,000 grant from Domtar Kingsport through the company’s employee-driven $2K Your Way charitable giving program.
Ellie Mitchell, a senior human resources generalist at Domtar, submitted the winning contribution request, nominating the United Way of Greater Kingsport’s literacy program for the corporate grant.
According to Kelsie Dulaney, impact and education manager with the United Way of Greater Kingsport, the donation was pivotal in expanding local literacy outreach efforts in 2025.
“United WE READ is incredibly grateful to be a recipient of the $2K Your Way grant,” Dulaney said. “These dollars were crucial in making sure that students in Kingsport have access to books, literacy resources and opportunities.”
The grant enabled a unique collaboration among United WE READ, AveNew, the Sullivan County Anti-Drug Coalition and the Kingsport Public Library to bring New York Times best-selling author Ellen Hopkins to Kingsport.
During her visit, Hopkins engaged with almost 1,000 students across three local high schools: Dobyns Bennett, Sullivan East and West Ridge. She also participated in a community event open to the greater Kingsport area.
Hopkins’ presentations extended beyond typical author visits, as she openly shared “her personal experience with domestic violence, parenting a child with substance use disorder, recovery and the importance of writing as a coping skill,” Dulaney noted.
In conjunction with the author’s visit, the partner organizations developed a parent/caregiver resource guide designed to help families navigate difficult conversations through shared reading experiences.
“United WE READ truly believes in the power of reading and writing as a coping skill, and the importance of having hard conversations with your children to develop positive relationships and encourage reading independently or with your family,” Dulaney commented.
The funding from Domtar Kingsport helped the program reach a new demographic and solidify partnerships, including one with the Sullivan County School district. United WE READ hopes to continue building on its relationship with the company beyond the financial donation.
“On behalf of our youngest community members and readers, I am very grateful for Domtar’s continued support of United WE READ as we engage, empower and equip all children, families, and the greater Kingsport community with tools and strategies that build a literacy-rich culture, and a pathway to lifelong success,” Dulaney added.