Goodbye Gala, Hello Feud: Why We’re Retiring Triple Crown Trivia

Since 2018, Triple Crown Trivia has been more than a fundraiser, it’s been part of I Would Rather Be Reading’s origin story.

IWRBR's very first Trivia Fundraiser raised $12,000 and supported 9 students in our first summer camp, an experience that validated the power of our trauma-informed literacy approach and laid the foundation for the afterschool programs we run today.

That seed grew into something beautiful, and over the years, TCT has connected us with incredible donors, new partners, and a growing community of champions for our work.

Fast forward to 2024: Triple Crown Trivia had grown into a full-scale Derby-season gala and afterparty - so much so, it even earned recognition as an official Kentucky Derby Festival event. The support was incredible, and the turnout was one of our biggest yet. But with that growth came growing costs. Between the venue, vendors, and the months of planning required, the return on investment began to shrink. The portion of funds we were able to direct into programming just didn’t match the energy and capacity it took to pull the event off.

As IWRBR expanded, operating up to a dozen sites in a single year, we had to make a tough, but necessary, call: we needed a more sustainable way to fund our programming without stretching our team too thin.

We went back to the drawing board to find a way to raise the same essential funds for our program needs without draining our energy or dollars in the process.

Enter: Louisville Feud, our brand-new summer fundraiser with the same trivia energy, a fresh twist, and a major upgrade in sustainability.

This first-ever Feud was a hit! We raised $20,088 toward our $24,000 goal, with only a fraction of the overhead costs of previous years. We retained significant funding for programming, with far less cost and strain.

Let’s pause and appreciate that ...

When TCT started, IWRBR was brand new, with limited reach and name recognition. But now, thanks to your trust, your partnership, and your belief in our mission, our first-time fundraiser, Louisville Feud, was built on a foundation of community connection and donor loyalty that took years to earn. That’s the power of growing together.

Why It Matters

Triple Crown Trivia will always hold a special place in our hearts. It helped build the foundation we now stand on. But the heart of this work, the reason we get up and do it every day, is the kids. And they need us present, creative, and focused, not stretched thin planning four-month galas.

With Louisville Feud, we’re taking all the best parts of our legacy fundraiser - the fun, the trivia, the community - and reimagining it in a way that’s efficient, joyful, and mission-driven. And judging by the feedback, you loved it too!

Looking Ahead

Louisville Feud is here to stay. It’s officially replacing Triple Crown Trivia as our annual summer fundraiser—and we couldn’t be more excited about its potential. With your continued support and feedback, we know next year will be even bigger, brighter, and bolder.

Thank you for believing in our work, and thank you for helping us feud for a future where every child has access to quality literacy programs, social-emotional tools, quality enrichment opportunities and a community that believes in them.

The future is bright—and we’re just getting warmed up.