Franklin Templeton Promotes Literacy with Jumpstart’s Read for the Record

This year, 38 employees across seven offices participated in Jumpstart's 19th annual Read for the Record campaign, sharing the joy of reading with over 700 students. This global initiative celebrates the transformative power of reading and promotes early literacy by encouraging as many people as possible to read the same book on the same day.

On October 24, Franklin Templeton volunteers read Piper Chen Sings, written by Phillipa Soo and Maris Pasquale Doran, and illustrated by Qin Leng. The story follows Piper Chen, a young girl who loves to sing but struggles with self-doubt and stage fright when asked to perform a solo. She tells her Nai Nai that the nervousness feels like “butterflies having a dance party” in her stomach, making her fear she’ll make a mistake. Nai Nai reassures Piper, explaining that those butterflies signal something exciting is about to happen and that embracing the feeling will help her move past it. With her grandmother’s wisdom, Piper gains confidence and discovers her voice on stage.

As a proud sponsor of Jumpstart, Franklin Templeton donated over 1,100 copies of Piper Chen Sings to students and classrooms.

A heartfelt thank you to all Franklin Templeton employees who read this inspiring story with Jumpstart. Your enthusiasm for Read for the Record helps create meaningful shared reading experiences that bring children and adults together across the globe every year.