Read 3 was launched by H-E-B in 2011 to help families build strong reading habits at home. By encouraging parents and caregivers to read with their children at least three times a week, the program helps prepare young learners for success in school.

Through Read 3, H-E-B supports schools, libraries, and literacy organizations across Texas. Since its launch, more than 6.5 million books have been donated to children through community events, schools, libraries, and stores statewide.

Each September, Read 3 celebrates National Literacy Month with the Big Texas Read-In, bringing together more than 130,000 students across Texas to read at the same time and celebrate the power of books.

Big Texas Read In

2026

On Friday, September 25, H-E-B Read 3 celebrated National Literacy Month with our annual H-E-B Read 3 Big Texas Read In. Schools across Texas joined the celebration by reading books on their campuses or tuning in to a special live event hosted at historic Adamson High School in Dallas ISD. 

Students were treated to a lively reading experience led by award-winning author and Latin Grammy-winning musician Lucky Diaz. Alongside the Family Jam Band, Diaz brought his beloved book Paletero Man to life through music, storytelling, and audience participation. Hundreds of Dallas ISD students attended in person, while thousands more joined virtually from classrooms across the state. 

Thanks to our incredible nonprofit partner, The Leaders Readers Network, every student in attendance received a copy of a Lucky Diaz book to take home and enjoy. 

Whether participating in the live event or reading together on campus, Texas schools demonstrated that literacy remains a priority across our state. 

At H-E-B, we believe every book helps build a brighter future because strong readers become strong leaders. 

All registered schools that met eligibility requirements were entered into a drawing for a prize of $1000 for their school library.

2026 winners are:

  • Blanco Elementary School PTO (Blanco ISD) 

  • Sunfield Elementary School PTA (Hays CISD) 

  • Almquist Middle School PTA (Hutto ISD) 

  • Outley Elementary School PTA (Alief ISD) 

  • Wide School PTO (Wide School) 

  • Howe Elementary School PTA (Canyon ISD

  • Smothermon Elementary School PTA (Prosper ISD) 

  • Milan Elementary School PTA (McAllen ISD) 

  • Memorial Early College High School PTA (PSJA ISD) 

  • Webb Elementary School PTA (Corpus Christi ISD) 

2026 winners are:

  • Blanco Elementary School PTO (Blanco ISD) 

  • Sunfield Elementary School PTA (Hays CISD) 

  • Almquist Middle School PTA (Hutto ISD) 

  • Outley Elementary School PTA (Alief ISD) 

  • Wide School PTO (Wide School) 

  • Howe Elementary School PTA (Canyon ISD) 

  • Smothermon Elementary School PTA (Prosper ISD) 

  • Milan Elementary School PTA (McAllen ISD) 

  • Memorial Early College High School PTA (PSJA ISD) 

  • Webb Elementary School PTA (Corpus Christi ISD) 

Join us as we attempt to break our 2025 Read In record!

On Friday, September 25th, we invite school PTA/PTOs, district foundations and literacy non-profits to read with us for 30 minutes from 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. to set a new record and be entered in a drawing for $1000 for their school library or literacy initiative. 10 winners will be drawn.

Register your school PTA/PTO, school district foundation, or literacy non-profits to participate in our Read 3 Big Texas Read In. It’s as easy as A,B,C.

  1. Complete the entry form. One entry per school or organization.
  2. Have your students choose a book to read.
  3. Read for 30 minutes on the designated day and time. Or join our live Read In featuring the book Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz.. Registered organizations will receive the log in for the event.

2026 Read In Entry Form

Read 3 Read In Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  All entries must be received by September 24, 2026.  Open to Texas 501(c)(3) organizations only.  Void where prohibited. 

  1. PROGRAM PERIOD.  The entry period for the Read 3 Read In (the “Award Program”), sponsored by H‑E‑B, LP (“H‐E‐B” or “Sponsor”), begins on September 1, 2026 at 12:00:01 a.m. Central Standard Time (“CST”) and ends on September 24, 2026, at 11:59:59 p.m. CST (“Award Program Period”). Registration in the Award Program must be completed by, and all entries must be received by, 11:59:59 p.m. CST on September 24, 2026. The computer clock of Sponsor’s webmaster is the official timekeeping device for the Award Program. 

  2. ELIGIBILITY.  The Award Program is open only to non-profit organizations whose activities and mission include the promotion of education and literacy in the state of Texas, including (without limitation) parent-teacher associations, parent-teacher organizations, foundations, and non-profits associated with libraries and public, private, and parochial schools (each, an “Entrant Organization”).  To qualify as an Entrant Organization, an organization must be qualified as a 501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Code and validly organized under Texas law. By participating in the Award Program, each “Entrant Organization” agrees to be bound by these Official Rules, and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final in all matters relating to the Award Program.  To be eligible, an Entrant Organization must maintain its 501(c)(3) status and remain a validly operating organization through the date on which prizes are awarded. 

  3. HOW TO ENTER.  To enter, a representative with authority to enter into agreements on behalf of the Entrant Organization should navigate to the registration page https://newsroom.heb.com/read-3/ and complete the registration form for the Award Program, including a physical address for the Entrant Organization’s main office or mailing address, by 11:59:59 p.m. CST on September 24, 2026.  Limit one (1) entry per Entrant Organization. 

  4. PRIZES.  Six (6) Grand Prizes (One (1) per H‑E‑B Market Region): A $1,000.00 cash award to be used for any purpose consistent with the Entrant Organization’s charitable and educational programs.  Four (4) Wild Card Prizes (Chosen from among the six (6) H‑E‑B Market Regions): A $1,000.00 cash award to be used for any purpose consistent with the Entrant Organization’s charitable and educational programs.  Prizes may not be sold, transferred, or assigned by the Entrant Organization to any other person or entity except as may be permitted by Sponsor in its sole discretion.  No prize substitution will be made unless Sponsor, in its sole discretion, determines otherwise.  Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize or portions thereof for one of equal or greater value should it become unavailable for any reason.  Limit one (1) prize per Entrant Organization. 

  5. ALL PRIZES.  Receiving a prize is contingent upon compliance with these Official Rules.  In the event that a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, Sponsor will award the applicable prize to an alternate potential winner by random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries.  Prizes will be fulfilled approximately eight (8) to ten (10) weeks after the conclusion of the Award Program.  Any prize notification returned to Sponsor as undeliverable will result in forfeiture of prize and an alternate potential winner will be selected.  Any costs, including all applicable taxes and fees, and any expenses not stated in these Official Rules associated with the prize are the sole responsibility of the winner.  Prizes are non-transferable and non-substitutable, except in the sole discretion of Sponsor.  All prizes will be awarded provided a sufficient quantity ofqualifying entries is received, and prizes are claimed properly in accordance with these rules. 

  6. PRIZE DRAWINGS/DECLARATION.  Each entry will be assigned to one (1) of the six (6) H‑E‑B Market Regions: Border, Central Texas, Gulf Coast, Houston, Northwest, and San Antonio.  Entries will be assigned to a Market Region based on the ZIP code used by the Entrant Organization in its registration form.  Sponsor retains sole discretion in region assignments.  As to each H‑E‑B Market Region, Sponsor will randomly select potential winners from among all eligible entries received and assigned to that H‑E‑B Market Region.  Drawings will take place in San Antonio, Texas on or about September 28, 2026.  Winners will be notified by mail, phone, or email.  Except where prohibited, the potential winners will be required to sign and return a Declaration of Compliance, Liability and Publicity Release (“Declaration”), which must be received by Sponsor within seven (7) days of the date notice or attempted notice is sent in order to claim a prize.  If a potential winner of any prize cannot be contacted, fails to sign and return the Declaration, or fails to provide any other requested information within the required time period (if applicable), or the prize is returned as undeliverable, the potential winner forfeits the prize. 

  7. ODDS OF WINNING.  Odds of winning a Grand Prize depend on the number of eligible entries from each H‑E‑B Market Region; odds of winning a Wild Card Prize depend on the number of eligible entries received from all H‑E‑B Market Regions.  Number of entries will not change odds of winning. 

  8. OTHER.  Award Program is void where prohibited and subject to all applicable laws and regulations.  Entry and acceptance of prize constitutes agreement to be bound by the Official Rules, permission to use the winner’s organization name and/or trademarks for advertising and promotion without further compensation, and a release of Sponsor and its affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, employees, agents and promotional agencies, from any and all claims or liability arising out of participation in Award Program or acceptance or use of prize.  Invalidity of any provision of the Official Rules shall not affect any other portionthereof. Entrant Organizations agree that Sponsor retains sole discretion as to determining eligibility, including the validity of any attempts to cure. Sponsor reserves the right to change Official Rules or cancel AwardProgram without notice.   

  9. ENTRY ERRORS.  Sponsor is not responsible for: (i) electronic or digital transmissions or entries that are lost, late, stolen, incomplete, illegible, damaged, garbled, destroyed, or misdirected; (ii) any problems or technical malfunctions, errors, omissions, interruptions, deletions, defects, delays in operation of transmission, communication failures, destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries; (iii) failed or unavailable hardware, network, software or telephone transmissions, damage to entrants’ or any person’s computer and/or its contents, or causes beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control that jeopardize the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Award Program; (iv) any entries submitted in a manner that is not expressly allowed under these rules; (v) incorrect or inaccurate entry information whether caused by entrants or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Award Program, (vi) any typographical or other error in the printing or advertising of the offer, administration or execution of the Award Program, or in the announcement of prizes/prize winners; or (vii) malfunctions or interference resulting from illicit, malicious or injurious code (including but not limited to viruses, worms, and denial of service attacks). If for any reason the Award Program cannot be executed as planned, including but not limited to transmission failure, infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsor that corrupt or affect the security, administration, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Award Program, or if the Award Program is compromised or becomes technically corrupted in any way, electronically or otherwise, Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, modify or terminate the Award Program and reserves the right, but not the obligation, to select winners from among all non‐suspect entries received as of the date/time of such termination/cancellation or modification. 

    Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify and prosecute any individual who tampers with or attempts to tamper with the entry process.

    CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY PERSON TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR OTHERWISE CORRUPT THE AWARD PROGRAM OR TO UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE AWARD PROGRAM MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DISQUALIFY, PROSECUTE AND SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. 

  10. DISPUTES/CHOICE OF LAW.  Each entrant agrees that this Award Program shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas. 

  11. PRIVACY/TERMS OF USE.  Information collected from entrants is subject to the Sponsor’s Privacy Policy (available at www.heb.com/privacy).  All entrants authorize Sponsor to contact them for any reason related to conducting the Award Program. 

  12. WINNERS LIST.  For the names of the winners and/or a copy of the Official Rules, visit https://newsroom.heb.com/read-3/ .  The winning organizations’ names will be posted on or about December 1, 2026, following the verification of all winners and the awarding of all prizes. 

  13. SPONSOR.  This Award Program is sponsored by H‑E‑B, LP, 646 South Flores Street, San Antonio, Texas 78204. 

Check Out the Big Texas Read-In Over the Years!

Check Out the Big Texas Read-In Over the Years!

Help Grow Young Minds

Learn how you can help shape a child’s mind by reading to them three times a week, using the activities below.

Help Grow Young Minds

Learn how you can help shape a child’s mind by reading to them three times a week, using the activities below.

H.E.Buddy Summer Reading Club

Read 3 Kids Activities

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H.E.Buddy Summer Reading Club

Read 3 Kids Activities

Read 3 at Home Lessons

H.E.Buddy Summer Reading Club

Read 3 Kids Activities

Read 3 at Home Lessons

Uncle Marc’s

Glen Heights

Uncle Marc’s was founded by Marcus and Creda Perryman on a simple idea: bring families back to the kitchen. Inspired by Marcus’ Mississippi upbringing and Creda’s East Texas roots, they created a lineup that brings together the best of both sides of the river —  Grill Master Seasoning, Blackberry Molasses BBQ Sauce and Hot Honey Bourbon (BBQ Hot Sauce). Now based in Red Oak, the couple makes bold, versatile blends that turn everyday cooks into neighborhood pitmasters.