Overview:

The Dallas chapter of the National Black McDonald's Owner Operators Association celebrated the 10th anniversary of its annual African American Read-In during Black History Month with a family-centered event at McDonald's. The event, led by radio personality DeeDee McGuire, blended storytelling, free books for children, and complimentary Happy Meals, turning the neighborhood restaurant into a space where literacy and community came together. The initiative is part of a national effort to promote literacy while celebrating Black authors, storytelling traditions, and the cultural importance of reading.

Inside the bustling McDonald’s off of West Sublett Road in Arlington, laughter and the sound of pages turning filled the room as families gathered to celebrate the power of reading.

The Dallas chapter of the National Black McDonald’s Owner Operators Association marked the 10th anniversary of its annual African American Read-In during Black History Month with a family-centered event at McDonald’s.

Led by radio personality DeeDee McGuire, the celebration blended storytelling, free books for children and complimentary Happy Meals, transforming the neighborhood restaurant into a space where literacy and community came together.

The initiative, which has been running for a decade, aims to promote literacy and celebrate Black authors and storytelling traditions. Credit: Steven D Hill Photography

For organizers, the event was more than a celebration. It was a reminder that access to books and encouragement from community leaders can shape a child’s future.

A Decade of Literacy and Community

For ten years, the Dallas chapter of the National Black McDonald’s Owner Operators Association has partnered with The Continental Societies, Inc. to host African American Read-In events across North Texas. Location owners Anthony and Arminda Grissett of Grissett Enterprises were personally excited to commemorate a decade of the event.

“We’ve been committed to doing this for ten years,” Anthony Grissett said. “Even during COVID, we did it online. We did a virtual version. So it’s our commitment to our community, our children, literacy and an amazing brand called McDonald’s that offers scholarships and opportunities for all.”

As the African American Read-In returns next February, it’s worth reflecting on the importance of literacy and community in shaping the next generation of leaders. Credit: Steven D Hill Photography.

The Grisettes have been proudly owning and operating McDonald’s restaurants in Everman, Arlington, Irving, and Hillsboro, TX, for over 30 years.

The initiative is part of a national effort to promote literacy while celebrating Black authors, storytelling traditions and the cultural importance of reading.

Owners explained that the partnership reflects a long-standing commitment to families who live in the communities surrounding their restaurants.

During the Arlington event, every child in attendance received a free book and branded swag, along with a Happy Meal. The experience also included photo opportunities with the McDonald’s character Grimace, turning the afternoon into a joyful celebration for young readers.

Literacy as the Key to the Future

The afternoon goes beyond one afternoon of storytelling, event organizers made clear. Arminda explained that she sees literacy as a gateway to opportunity.

Reading, Anthony added on, opens the door to everything that follows in a child’s life: from understanding math and science to developing leadership skills, literacy forms the foundation for long-term success.

“The opportunity to educate and inspire and create future leaders is our passion and our dream,” he said.

At the heart of the Grissetts’ message is a broader encouragement to dream boldly and pursue those ambitions with intention.

“If there’s anyone listening who has dreams and wants them to come true,” Anthony Grissett said, “they should consider coming to McDonald’s so we can teach them leadership, provide education and opportunities that can take them wherever their dreams may lead.”

That belief drives their work not only during Black History Month but throughout the year. Many local McDonald’s owner operators partner with schools across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, visiting classrooms to speak with students about education, career pathways and entrepreneurship.

Through scholarship programs and mentorship opportunities, they encourage students to imagine possibilities beyond what they see in their immediate environment.

Their message to young people is simple. The skills learned in school today can lead to leadership tomorrow.

From Dream Board to Nine Restaurants

Grisettes also shared their personal journey, one rooted in faith, family and persistence.

What began as a dream eventually became a thriving family business.

The owner recalled working in the food industry as a teenager and later attending Florida A&M University before moving to North Texas. At one point, he and his wife created a vision board mapping out their goals for the next twenty years.

Among those goals were two restaurants.

Today, that vision has grown into ownership of nine McDonald’s locations, with multiple members of their family involved in the business. For them, the journey reflects what can happen when determination meets opportunity.

Their story is one they often share with students, especially those who may not realize how far a first job can take them.

In fact, they note that one in eight Americans has worked at McDonald’s at some point in their lives, making it one of the country’s most common entry points into the workforce.

Family at the Center

Throughout the event, the theme of family remained constant.

Parents, grandparents and children gathered around tables to listen to stories and celebrate reading together. For the owner operators, that atmosphere reflects a core value they say defines both their business and their community work.

Family, they say, is the foundation.

The Grisett family, who own and operate nine McDonald’s locations in North Texas, have been instrumental in organizing the event, partnering with The Continental Societies, Inc. The Grisett Family of Grisett Enterprises pictured with DeDe McGuire and Grimace. Credit: Steven D Hill Photography

Beyond the Read-In, the owners regularly partner with local schools, community organizations and public officials to support education, wellness initiatives and youth development programs throughout the year.

For the Grissetts, the mission is simple: remain connected to the neighborhoods they serve.

“It’s not just about us as owner-operators,” she added. “It’s about connecting families and communities.”

A Tradition That Continues

As the afternoon wrapped up, children left with new books in their hands and smiles on their faces.

For the Dallas chapter of the National Black McDonald’s Owner Operators Association and their partners at The Continental Societies, Inc., that outcome is exactly the point.

Dallas’ National Black McDonald’s Owner Operators Association celebrated the 10th African American Read-In, promoting literacy and community engagement. The event offered free books, Happy Meals, and emphasized the importance of reading for future success. Credit: Steven D Hill Photography

“This is what we do,” Anthony Grissett said. “And it’s been our commitment for the last ten years.”

The African American Read-In will return again next February, continuing a tradition that has now spanned a decade across the Dallas-Fort Worth community.

Because sometimes the first step toward a brighter future starts with a single book.