Patterned after SMART (Start Making a Reader Today) in Oregon, Read-Aloud Volunteer Program was founded in 1995 by Dr. Marilyn Nye with support from major contributors Frank and Kay Davis. Starting with three readers at Downer Elementary (San Pablo), Read-Aloud quickly expanded and became a nonprofit in 1997 with 120 volunteer readers at Downer and Chavez Elementary schools. 

Professor Nye served as chairwoman of the Department of Teacher Education at Cal State Hayward for nine years before her retirement and founding of Read-Aloud.  Upon her death in late 1999, she was succeeded by Judy Sam and later Ruth Major in 2010.  Crystal Merrill became Executive Director in 2018.