Roots and Wings

What Roots and Wings does

Roots and Wings is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 by Ted Hoskinson and headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. The organization operates two core programs: Project UpLift, a free small-group after-school reading tutoring program delivered by certified teachers inside Title One public elementary schools in Palm Beach County for students in grades 1-3 reading one to two grade levels below proficiency, and the Above and Beyond Awards, a peer-nominated teacher and staff recognition program that has honored nearly 2,000 educators since inception. Programs are delivered directly through partnerships with 20 Title One schools in a single school district, with each school's own certified teachers running the small-group instruction and Literacy Coordinators supplying individualized lesson plans.

The organization has layered AI-enabled functionality onto its tutoring program through BuddyBooks, a third-party AI-powered reading coach developed by ObjectiveEd with National Science Foundation SBIR support, piloted across 1,450+ students in grades 3-5 beginning October 2025. BuddyBooks combines expressive AI narration with real-time pronunciation, fluency, and vocabulary feedback to provide structured independent reading practice between human-led tutoring sessions. Roots and Wings is funded entirely through donations, grants, sponsorships, planned giving, and fundraising events rather than fee-for-service revenue; sponsorship tiers range from $50/month recurring donations supporting one student to $5,000 class sponsorships, and the 10th Anniversary Gala in February 2026 generated $385,000. Notable institutional funders include Impact 100 PBC ($100,000), the Mithun Foundation ($40,000), and the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation ($40,000), and the organization has been recognized as a top-rated nonprofit by Charity Navigator, Candid (GuideStar), Great Nonprofits, and Extraordinary Charities.

Name

Roots and Wings

Legal name

Roots and Wings, Inc.

Website

https://rootsandwingsinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Roots and Wings is a Boca Raton-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating Project UpLift, a free small-group after-school reading tutoring program, and the Above and Beyond teacher recognition program across 20 Title One elementary schools in Palm Beach County, Florida, serving approximately 1,500 students annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Nonprofit Services (Literacy and Teacher Recognition)

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Remedial Reading & Literacy Intervention (EDANAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Literacy & Numeracy Intervention (Reading/Math Support) (EDAJALAD), Reading & Literacy Centers (Phonics, Comprehension, Writing) (EDANAHAD), Literacy Foundations (Phonics, Reading Fluency, Comprehension) Platforms (EDAFAOAD), Reading Intervention & Remediation (Decoding, Fluency, Comprehension) (EDAKAJAD)

Keywords

• Literacy tutoring programs
• After-school reading support
• Teacher recognition awards
• Nonprofit literacy services
• Elementary reading intervention

Headquarters

HQ city

Boca Raton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Fundraising: The nonprofit generates revenue through individual donations, event ticket sales, sponsorships, and auction purchases. The 10th Anniversary Gala raised $385,000. Recurring giving options include $50/month donations to support one Project UpLift student.
2. Planned/Legacy Giving: Structured planned giving vehicles including bequests, charitable remainder trusts, charitable gift annuities, beneficiary designations, and endowed gifts. Supports long-term sustainability of programs.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Local businesses sponsor individual schools, provide in-kind donations, and support events. Sponsor a child for $500 per year.
4. Grant Funding: Foundations and civic groups provide grant funding. Notable grants include $100k from Impact 100 PBC, $40k from Mithun Foundation, and $40k from Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Roots and Wings delivers free small-group after-school remedial reading tutoring (Project UpLift) to Title One elementary students in grades 1-3 reading below grade level, paired with a peer-nominated teacher recognition program (Above and Beyond Awards) offering certificates, gifts, and $200 monetary awards. The organization partners directly with 20 Title One public elementary schools in Palm Beach County, where certified teachers from the students' own schools deliver the small-group instruction with individualized lesson plans from Literacy Coordinators, and is increasingly supplemented by the BuddyBooks AI-powered reading coach for grades 3-5.

Product overview

Roots and Wings operates two core programs: Project UpLift, a free small-group after-school reading tutoring program for Title One elementary school students in grades 1-3, and the Above and Beyond Awards, a teacher recognition program. These are complemented by BuddyBooks, an AI-powered reading coach that provides additional structured practice for students in grades 3-5, and a Legacy Giving planned giving platform for donor engagement. Project UpLift serves approximately 1,500-1,600 students across 20 Title One schools in Palm Beach County, while Above and Beyond Awards has recognized nearly 2,000 educators since 2016.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Project UpLift: A free small-group after-school tutorial program providing remedial reading instruction to Title One elementary school students in grades 1-3 who are reading one or two grades below grade level, taught by certified teachers in their home schools.
• Above and Beyond Awards
• BuddyBooks

Products and services

• Project UpLift A free small-group after-school tutorial program providing remedial reading instruction to Title One elementary school students in grades 1-3 who are reading one or two grade levels below proficiency. Delivered on school campuses by certified teachers from the students' own schools, with individualized lesson plans created by Literacy Coordinators. Free for students and funded entirely through donations, sponsorships, and grants.
• Above and Beyond Awards A peer-nominated teacher and non-instructional staff recognition program honoring educators who demonstrate exemplary dedication to their students, school, and community. Winners receive ceremonies, certificates, gifts, gift cards, and a $200 monetary award. The program has recognized nearly 2,000 educators since 2016 and is delivered across all 20 Title One partner schools in Palm Beach County.
• BuddyBooks AI Reading Coach An AI-powered reading coach integrated into Project UpLift that provides structured independent reading practice for students in grades 3-5. Students alternate between listening to expressive AI narration and reading aloud, receiving real-time gentle corrections, with tracking of pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary, and reading time. Originally developed for students with dyslexia and now expanded to help reluctant and struggling readers build fluency.
• Legacy Giving Program A planned giving platform enabling donors to support Roots and Wings' literacy programs through wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, IRA charitable distributions, charitable gift annuities, and endowed gifts. Provides structured vehicles for long-term sustainability of Project UpLift and Above and Beyond Awards.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94-96% of Project UpLift students showed reading gains; 88% of third graders promoted to fourth grade at same rate as peers; 77% exceeded iReady growth goals
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Title One Schools (Palm Beach County)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2026Partnership with 20 Title One public elementary schools across Palm Beach County to deliver Project UpLift tutoring and Above and Beyond Awards. Schools include Crosspointe, Jupiter, Boca Raton Elementary, S.D. Spady, Plumosa School of the Arts, Freedom Shores, Pine Grove, and others. Certified teachers from each school deliver the tutoring program.
• Best of Delray Beach Facebook GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Community partnership for holiday campaign. Group members consistently show up for local families and nonprofits, helping amplify Roots and Wings' mission and rally grassroots donations.
• Starboard Group Toy DriveminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Co-sponsorship of FREE Holiday Concert & Toy Drive at Old School Square on December 5. Partnership culminated in community event supporting Project UpLift students.
• ObjectiveEdcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2025ObjectiveEd developed BuddyBooks, an AI-powered reading coach tool. The company is supported by the National Science Foundation's SBIR program. BuddyBooks began as a resource for students with dyslexia and expanded to help reluctant and struggling readers build fluency. Roots and Wings piloted BuddyBooks starting October 2025 with 1,450 students in grades 3-5.
• Bound For CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Partnership between Roots and Wings founder Ted Hoskinson and Bound For College founder Mark Sauer to help low-income students get college degrees. Two non-profits team up to help students pay for college.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Reading Is Fundamental: National nonprofit focused on children's literacy and reading engagement, providing books and literacy resources to underserved K-12 students. Closely comparable mission to Roots and Wings' Project UpLift literacy intervention focus.
• Reach Out and Read: National nonprofit that integrates literacy into pediatric care and supports early childhood reading. Comparable as a literacy-focused nonprofit serving young students from low-income families with measurable reading outcomes.
• First Book: Nonprofit providing books and educational resources to children in low-income communities, including Title One school programs. Comparable as a literacy-focused organization partnering directly with Title One schools to improve reading access and outcomes.
• Raising A Reader: National nonprofit focused on early literacy and family engagement in reading, partnering with schools and early childhood programs. Comparable to Roots and Wings in delivering literacy interventions through school partnerships targeting underserved students.
• Literacy Inc (LINC): Nonprofit that mobilizes communities to support children's literacy, with programs embedded in schools serving low-income neighborhoods. Highly comparable model: school-based literacy programming for K-12 students in high-need communities.
• Children's Literacy Initiative: Nonprofit that partners with schools to deliver professional development and literacy coaching for educators serving high-need students. Comparable dual focus on student reading outcomes and teacher capability building.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: Global book-gifting program mailing free books to children from birth to age five. Comparable as a high-profile literacy nonprofit focused on early childhood reading access for underserved families.
• 826 National: Network of youth writing and tutoring centers supporting K-12 students with literacy skills. Comparable as a nonprofit providing free literacy support to underserved students through structured programs.

Broad incumbents

• United Way of Palm Beach County: Established regional nonprofit operating in the same Palm Beach County geography as Roots and Wings with broad education, literacy, and community programs. Comparable as a similarly situated Palm Beach County nonprofit competing for overlapping donor and corporate sponsorship dollars.

Regional players

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County: Regional nonprofit serving Palm Beach County youth with after-school programs that often include homework help and literacy support. Comparable in operating school-age after-school programming in the same geographic market and competing for overlapping donor and grant funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@rootsandwingsFlorida
• Facebookfacebook.com/RootsAndWingsFL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rootsandwingsflorida
• Instagraminstagram.com/rootsandwingsfl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Roots and Wings