Lorielle Hollaway founded Cultured Books to cultivate curiosity and inspire impact among area youth – especially among children of color – by promoting a literacy lifestyle.
Cultured Books began as a pop-up bookstore in 2017 to increase literacy rates and provide children in St. Petersburg with better access to culturally relevant literature. Hollaway also hopes to impact children’s lives by ensuring that literacy extends far beyond school and is an integral aspect of their everyday lives.
“I think that’s something that’s really important to the way we market the programs that we have,” Hollaway explained. “It’s not just something that is like one-and-done – it’s a lifestyle.”
Cultured Books was established as a nonprofit organization in 2018, and the surrounding community is taking notice of its impact. Holloway took home the $15,000 grand prize at Social Ventures Partners Tampa Bay’s Fast Pitch competition Nov. 12.
Reach St. Pete received $10,000 in funding for finishing second, and 360 Eats won $7,500 for third. Florida 1.27 won $5,000 for receiving the most votes in the Audience Choice Award.
Hollaway relayed she was often told the mission of her Cultured Books Literacy Foundation (CBLF) was amazing, and needed, but that it did not meet the metrics required to secure funding.
