The LaundryCares Foundation recently announced that it has been awarded the David M. Rubenstein Prize as part of the 2024 Library of Congress Literacy Awards. This prestigious award honors the Foundation’s innovative efforts in promoting 
literacy by transforming laundromats into community hubs where families in underserved areas can access books and educational opportunities while completing everyday tasks.
“It is an incredible honor for the LaundryCares Foundation to be recognized by the Library of Congress,” said CLA President and CEO Brian Wallace. “We saw a clear need and a unique opportunity to transform laundromats into spaces where families can meet both essential and educational needs. By bridging this gap, we aim to empower underserved communities by providing safe, inviting spaces that inspire learning and growth.”
The Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program, established in 2013 and supported by philanthropist David M. Rubenstein and the Kislak Family Foundation, spotlights organizations in the United States and abroad that provide exemplary, innovative, and sustainable strategies to promote literacy and reading. The LaundryCares Foundation was selected for its innovative model of integrating literacy resources into laundromats, transforming these everyday spaces into community hubs not only for learning but also for family engagement and community support. Through this approach, LaundryCares addresses educational disparities while fostering stronger community ties and providing essential services to underserved populations.
LaundryCares has reimagined laundromats as spaces that meet both practical needs and educational goals. By hosting free laundry and literacy events, the Foundation provides families with clean laundry while offering access to books, creating opportunities for shared learning. These events, held in underserved communities, help bridge the gap between families and the literacy resources they often lack. Permanent reading spaces established in laundromats further encourage families to engage in reading while taking care of essential tasks, integrating learning seamlessly into daily life.
By partnering with national literacy organizations and libraries, LaundryCares has extended the impact of its programs beyond individual events. These collaborations enable the Foundation to distribute books and offer sustained educational programming, building a culture of literacy within the communities it serves. The partnerships help strengthen family ties, cultivate a love of reading among children, and create lasting educational foundations that will benefit generations to come.
“By weaving literacy into everyday life, LaundryCares hopes to foster a love of reading in children during critical formative years,” Wallace added. “These programs not only serve families directly but also create lasting community impacts by providing equitable access to essential educational resources.”
LaundryCares Foundation, along with other organizations recognized by the Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program, will be honored during a symposium and recognition event at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., this October.
For more information about the LaundryCares Foundation, visit www.laundrycares.org.
