On Saturday, October 23, Guilford County Schools (GCS) led a district-wide "Make A Difference Day" project on the nation's largest day of service. GCS partnered with four bookstores and seven libraries for a Read-A-Thon and book drive to support the One Million Books initiative. Kick-off celebrations featuring GCS cheerleaders began at 10 a.m. at eight of the 11 sites. Student volunteers from more than 20 middle and high schools participated in the day's activities. Also participating in the project were students from North Carolina A&T State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 42 AmeriCorps Vistas and a number of volunteers from the community.

Students and the community read a total of 74,106 minutes during Make a Difference Day. This is equal to 1,235.1 hours or 51.46 days. A total of 257 new books, 57 gently used and enough bookstore gift cards to put hundreds of new books into the hands of students were collected.

Kalen Quinn, a Northern High senior, served as the youth literacy spokesperson throughout the day.  Quinn visited several sites and discussed her graduation project, which focuses on improving literacy for children of poverty. Weaver Academy students created public service announcements about the importance of reading using testimonials from Make a Difference Day participants. The McGrit-Horton Teen Poetry Project, composed of students from Page High, organized a spoken-word poetry event at the Barnes and Noble in Greensboro.