“Every child deserves to be confident”: Patrick Mahomes' $15,000 literacy move helped put nearly 6,000 books in Kansas City kids' hands while giving homeless childern a fresh start
Patrick Mahomes has found another way to help Kansas City children, and this one starts with a book. On May 31, 2025, his 15 and the Mahomies Foundation announced a $15,000 donation to the Kansas City Public Library ’s Summer Reading Program . The money helped the library purchase nearly 6,000 books for local children and support its effort to reduce summer learning loss .
The donation added another piece to Mahomes’ literacy work. His foundation had already backed reading programmes across Kansas City, while his #ReadFor15 campaign encourages children to spend at least 15 minutes reading each day.
Patrick Mahomes turned $15,000 into nearly 6,000 books for Kansas City kidsThe Kansas City Public Library received the $15,000 award as part of its continuing partnership with the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation. The money funded nearly 6,000 books that the library planned to distribute to Kansas City children through its 2025 Summer Reading Program.
The foundation also pointed to summer learning loss. It cited studies showing that students in third through fifth grade can lose as much as 20% of their previous reading gains during the summer break.
The library had a strong base to build on. Its 2024 Summer Reading Program attracted a record 15,060 registered participants. In 2025, the programme ran from May 30 through August 15. Every person who registered received a free book, while participants could also complete a five-book challenge and earn a reward.
Mahomes spoke about the value of reading in the foundation’s May 31 announcement.
“Reading every day is so important. It helps us grow, learn, and dream big,” Patrick Mahomes said in the announcement of his foundation’s partnership with the Kansas City Public Library.
The donation also followed Mahomes’ March 31 appearance at the Read for 15 Reading Rally at T-Mobile Center. Around 3,000 students attended the Kansas City event, which promoted a 15-minute daily reading habit.
“Reading is the foundation for success in school and in life,” Mahomes said at the March 31 Reading Rally. He also encouraged children to build a daily reading habit that could be “fun and empowering.”
Patrick Mahomes also helped 50 homeless children get a fresh startThe foundation supported another group of Kansas City children just weeks earlier. On April 14, 2025, 15 and the Mahomies donated $15,000 to HALO’s Fresh Start Fund. The programme helped provide new wardrobes for 50 homeless children moving into HALO Homes in Kansas City.
The donation covered basic items such as underwear, socks, shoes and clothing. For children entering a new home, those simple items can be some of the first things they get for themselves.
HALO founder and CEO Rebecca Welsh explained the thinking behind the programme in the April 14 announcement.
“Every child deserves to be confident. Every child deserves dignity,” Welsh said in HALO’s announcement of the Fresh Start Fund partnership.
HALO also runs a Kansas City Learning Center that supports more than 700 homeless and at-risk children. Its services include tutoring, scholarships and life-skills programmes.
The two projects show the range of Mahomes’ work with children in 2025. One focused on helping kids keep reading during the summer. The other helped homeless children settle into a new home with clothes and basic essentials.
The donation added another piece to Mahomes’ literacy work. His foundation had already backed reading programmes across Kansas City, while his #ReadFor15 campaign encourages children to spend at least 15 minutes reading each day.
Patrick Mahomes turned $15,000 into nearly 6,000 books for Kansas City kidsThe Kansas City Public Library received the $15,000 award as part of its continuing partnership with the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation. The money funded nearly 6,000 books that the library planned to distribute to Kansas City children through its 2025 Summer Reading Program.
The foundation also pointed to summer learning loss. It cited studies showing that students in third through fifth grade can lose as much as 20% of their previous reading gains during the summer break.
The library had a strong base to build on. Its 2024 Summer Reading Program attracted a record 15,060 registered participants. In 2025, the programme ran from May 30 through August 15. Every person who registered received a free book, while participants could also complete a five-book challenge and earn a reward.
Mahomes spoke about the value of reading in the foundation’s May 31 announcement.
“Reading every day is so important. It helps us grow, learn, and dream big,” Patrick Mahomes said in the announcement of his foundation’s partnership with the Kansas City Public Library.
The donation also followed Mahomes’ March 31 appearance at the Read for 15 Reading Rally at T-Mobile Center. Around 3,000 students attended the Kansas City event, which promoted a 15-minute daily reading habit.
“Reading is the foundation for success in school and in life,” Mahomes said at the March 31 Reading Rally. He also encouraged children to build a daily reading habit that could be “fun and empowering.”
Patrick Mahomes also helped 50 homeless children get a fresh startThe foundation supported another group of Kansas City children just weeks earlier. On April 14, 2025, 15 and the Mahomies donated $15,000 to HALO’s Fresh Start Fund. The programme helped provide new wardrobes for 50 homeless children moving into HALO Homes in Kansas City.
The donation covered basic items such as underwear, socks, shoes and clothing. For children entering a new home, those simple items can be some of the first things they get for themselves.
HALO founder and CEO Rebecca Welsh explained the thinking behind the programme in the April 14 announcement.
“Every child deserves to be confident. Every child deserves dignity,” Welsh said in HALO’s announcement of the Fresh Start Fund partnership.
HALO also runs a Kansas City Learning Center that supports more than 700 homeless and at-risk children. Its services include tutoring, scholarships and life-skills programmes.
The two projects show the range of Mahomes’ work with children in 2025. One focused on helping kids keep reading during the summer. The other helped homeless children settle into a new home with clothes and basic essentials.
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