Gold medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi reads her book “Cara’s Kindness” to Hazel Strauch Elementary students. Photo by Khushi Salgia 

RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) - Olympic gold medal winner Kristi Yamaguchi visited Hazel Strauch Elementary School in Rio Linda to celebrate the completion of the students’ reading challenge as well as read one of her own children’s books. The event took place inside the school’s cafeteria where students, caregivers and teachers gathered to meet and welcome Yamaguchi.

Yamaguchi, who was the U.S. gold medalist for figure skating in 1992, and the first Asian-American to win gold in the Winter Olympics, has since started a non-profit organization called Always Dream in 1996. Within Always Dream is a program called Always Reading that aims to promote child literacy. According to Yamaguchi, child literacy is an important cause to her because she has seen firsthand the benefits of reading with her own children, helping nurture imagination and creativity. Through the Always Reading Program, children receive tablets for accessing e-books, along with internet service if needed.

“There are so many families that don’t have access to high-quality books,” Yamaguchi said. 

On the tablets, they gain unlimited access to a digital library with over 40,000 books and are also gifted hardcover books to start their own library at home. The third pillar of the organization is offering local book coaches that provide personalized support for both the child and their primary caregiver to help integrate reading into their lifestyle and make it a lifelong habit. 

“It truly is the greatest gift you can give them,” Yamaguchi said of encouraging kids to read.

The reading challenge at Hazel Strauch Elementary took place during the 2025-26 school year, during which students read a total of 14,401 e-books on their tablets. Students keep the tablets and are encouraged to continue reading over the summer.  Teachers at Hazel Strauch Elementary said summer reading is especially important to help students maintain critical thinking skills and intellectual engagement while school is out.

In addition to being a philanthropist, Yamaguchi is also a New York Times bestselling and an award-winning children’s book author. At the event, she read one of her picture books called “Cara’s Kindness,” a story about the importance of paying kindness forward, and that the kindness might even come back to you. Yamaguchi said that she gets the inspiration on what morals and themes to write books about from experiences in her own life and always wants to leave the readers with a positive message. 

Yamaguchi, an avid reader herself, said a book she’s enjoyed recently is “Younger Next Year” by Chris Crowley, a book about health, wellness and longevity.