Patrick Mahomes Champions the Kansas City Public Library’s Summer Reading Program with a Generous Donation from 15 and the Mahomies

KANSAS CITY, MO – The 15 and the Mahomies Foundation announced a continuing partnership with the Kansas City Public Library (KCPL) to support the Library’s annual Summer Reading Program. Two-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes is leading this initiative by awarding $15,000 to KCPL.

In celebration of KCPL’s longstanding commitment to Kansas City, the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation has joined forces with the Library to celebrate the Library’s ongoing promotion of youth literacy and encourage participation in their Summer Reading Program. The ‘summer slide’ poses a significant challenge for young learners, with studies reporting that elementary school students in the third through fifth grades can lose as much as 20% of the prior year’s gains made in reading over the summer break. By supporting KCPL, the Foundation is helping to mitigate those losses and expanding on the Mahomes’ #ReadFor15 literacy campaign, which runs during the school year in multiple Kansas City-area school districts and around the nation. The generous award will purchase nearly 6,000 books, distributed to Kansas City kids to mitigate summer learning loss and encourage them to #Readfor15 throughout the summer and year-round.

KCPL’s 2025 Summer Reading theme is “Color Our World,” inviting Kansas Citians of all ages to join in the festivities. Every participant who registers for Summer Reading, whether online or in person, receives a free book to take home. Between May 30 and August 15, participants are challenged to read five books, tracking their progress through the Beanstack app. Completing the challenge earns participants a reward: a snack cup for babies and toddlers, a tote bag for kids and teens, and a pint glass for adults.

Last year, KCPL’s Summer Reading Program saw a record-breaking 15,060 registered participants. With Patrick Mahomes’ support and the additional resources provided by the Foundation, the Library hopes to break that record again this year.

“Reading every day is so important—it helps us grow, learn, and dream big” said Mahomes. “Let’s all dive into some great books this summer and keep pushing our minds to new heights.” The 15 and the Mahomies Foundation is excited to encourage young readers across Kansas City to participate and make the most of their summer.

For more details and to register, please visit https://kclibrary.org/SummerReading or your local library branch.

The Kansas City Public Library system consists of a central library, nine physical branches, a digital branch, and an outreach services program serving a community of over 250,000 in Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to providing library services to residents, the Library also serves as a resource for the 1.7 million metropolitan residents of greater Kansas City.

The 15 and the Mahomies Foundation is committed to enriching the lives of children through initiatives that focus on health, wellness, and literacy. Patrick and Brittany Mahomes’ support of the KCPL’s Summer Reading Program underscores this commitment and aims to foster a love of reading and learning among the youth of Kansas City.