PR Story Creation for Special Project

The volunteer would help us refine our messaging, identify compelling media angles for a public relations campaign that generates awareness leading up to our October 2026 launch and into the holiday gift giving season. Our goal is to build momentum that results in strong founding membership growth while establishing Secret Book Society as a nationally recognized literacy and enrichment program.

This person develops the story that makes Secret Book Society newsworthy rather than simply promotional. They identify the strongest media angles, determine which audiences each angle speaks to, and create the overall earned-media strategy.

Deliverables: 3–5 strong story angles; primary/secondary messaging; target audience for each angle; recommended launch timing/hooks; suggested types of media to pursue; and a one-page PR story strategy that the other PR volunteers can work from.

Secret Book Society is not a newsletter, not a subscription box, and not another class. It is a story-powered girls' growth membership.

This is a story-powered membership that combines reading adventures, hands-on projects, life skills, career exploration, puzzles, missions, and community into one flexible monthly experience. Our goal is to create excitement around reading while helping girls build confidence, practical skills, and curiosity about the future.

We are looking for a strategic communications partner to help position Secret Book Society as an innovative new category in educational enrichment and to develop a national launch strategy that reaches parents, librarians, homeschool families, community organizations, and the media.

Secret Book Society is one of the key programs through which we fulfill our mission of inspiring girls ages 10–15 to become confident readers, curious thinkers, and capable problem solvers through story-driven learning.

We have already completed extensive groundwork for the launch, including a comprehensive Books That Build Skills brand guide, company media kit, and a benchmarking document that includes messaging framework, competitor benchmarking, strategic positioning, website content, and program materials. These resources will give the volunteer team a strong foundation from which to develop a national public relations strategy rather than starting from scratch.

Our team will be available for planning meetings, interviews, and media opportunities, and we are committed to implementing the recommendations developed through this project. With an October 2026 soft launch leading up to a November hard launch in time for the holiday gift giving season this collaboration has the opportunity to create significant national visibility for Secret Book Society and establish it as a first-of-its-kind story-powered growth membership for girls.

A strong public relations strategy will help us introduce this innovative program to families, librarians, homeschool communities, youth organizations, and funding partners nationwide. Increased awareness will lead to greater membership growth, allowing more students to engage with our unique combination of books, hands-on projects, life skills, career exploration, and community.

By helping us successfully launch Secret Book Society, this project will expand access to engaging educational experiences that strengthen literacy, reduce passive screen time through a thoughtful blend of analog and digital learning, and inspire the next generation of readers, leaders, and future innovators. A successful national launch will also strengthen the long-term sustainability of Athenian, allowing us to reach and serve more students for years to come.

The Public Relations team will work directly with the Founder & CEO along with the Secret Book Society Program Manager throughout the engagement. We pride ourselves on being highly responsive and collaborative, providing quick feedback, timely approvals, and open communication to keep the project moving forward efficiently.