THE KURT KARAKUL LITERACY AWARD
The Kurt Karakul Literacy Award honors the legacy of a visionary leader whose dedication to equity and education has changed lives across Cleveland.
Created through a generous gift from the Third Federal Foundation, the award recognizes a nonprofit or public service organization in Cuyahoga County doing exemplary work to advance literacy. Each year, we work with a panel of local leaders to select an organization that is making meaningful contributions to the elimination of literacy as a barrier for our children and adults. The selected organization receives a $20,000 grant to expand its impact at our Read Across America Celebration.
About Kurt Karakul
Kurt Karakul has spent decades championing literacy, education, and racial justice. As a young attorney working in juvenile court, he witnessed how low literacy levels trapped youth in cycles of struggle. That experience shaped a lifelong commitment to removing barriers through literacy.
As the founding president of the Third Federal Foundation, Kurt launched the Slavic Village P-16 Initiative, a cradle-to-career effort addressing education, housing, health, and safety in one of Cleveland’s most challenged neighborhoods. Under his leadership:
- Quality pre-K seats increased tenfold
- Kindergarten readiness rose by 185%
- Third-grade reading scores jumped from 50% to 92%
Past winners include:
- Seeds of Literacy, 2022
- Reach Out & Read Greater Cleveland, 2023
- America SCORES Cleveland, 2024
- Kids’ Book Bank, 2025
Nominate an Organization
Is there a non-profit or public service organization in Cuyahoga County that shares Kurt’s passion and commitment for literacy in need of funding? Tell us their story.
