Dave Eggers starts the story, “Once Upon a School…”

The wish

Once Upon a School

The winner

Dave Eggers

The year

2008

I wish that you — you personally and every creative individual and organization you know — will find a way to directly engage with a public school in your area, and that you’ll then tell the story of how you got involved, so that within a year we have 1,000 examples of innovative public-private partnerships.

The plan

Build a website that serves as a platform to engage and connect volunteers with public schools. Enlist volunteer educators around the world to share their stories of engagement with students.


Current status

HOT Studio built the first phase of a website to power Dave’s wish by providing guidelines for partnering with schools and receiving pledges and stories of involvement. Today, the 826 National website continues to recruit public school champions, with nearly 400 stories recorded. The platform also serves to connect volunteer organizations with contributors.


Get involved

  1. Join 826 National to help train and support people setting up their own writing and tutoring programs. Email information@826national.org
  2. Become a volunteer tutor at 826 National
  3. Contribute stories to the Once Upon A School archive

Dave's bio

Writing is only his day job: Dave Eggers moonlights as a publisher, philanthropist and advocate for students and teachers.
Learn more about Dave