One of the core tasks of the media house's social commitment is the support of children and youth culture, as well as reading encouragement programs.

Since early 2005, Gruner + Jahr has supported reading encouragement projects in deprived parts of the city in cooperation with the BürgerStiftung Hamburg. These include the "Leseclub" (reading club) at the Kölibri center for community work in the St. Pauli district, the "LeseZeit" (reading time) project where volunteers read stories to children, as well as the "mobile" reading encouragement program, "Lesen in Altona" (reading in Altona). In addition, Gruner + Jahr has promoted the annual reading festival "Seiteneinsteiger" since 2005.

In January 2007, the Hamburg Culture Authority launched "Buchstart" (Bookstart), a long-term project to encourage the acquisition of reading skills in young children. "Buchstart" is part of an initiative called "Lebenswerte Stadt" (“City worth living in”), for which Gruner + Jahr act as the main sponsor. Bags containing free picture books, book recommendations and literature tips for parents, as well as a coupon for Hamburg's public libraries, introduce children from 0 to 3 years of age to the world of books. An additional accompanying scheme called "Gedichte für Wichte" (poems for the young) was launched in April, 2007. It introduces children of up to three years of age to their first rhymes and songs.
In Spring 2008, “Buchstart” was honored with the commendation “Ausgewählter Ort 2008“ (Exclusive Location Award 2008) as part of the competition “365 Orte im Land der Ideen“ (365 Locations in the Land of Ideas).

Gruner + Jahr also supports the national campaign "Lesestart - die Lese-Initiative für Deutschland" to encourage the acquisition of language and reading skills in young children. This was initiated and launched by Stiftung Lesen in the summer of 2008.

“The Harbor Front Literature Festival”, for which Gruner + Jahr is one of the cooperation partners, will be launched this year. The aim of Harbor Front is to establish a large annual international book festival in Hamburg. The mix of different languages and cultures found in the harbor area mean that it is the ideal venue for a literature festival.
A total of 85 events with 99 authors from 15 countries will take place in 25 different venues from September 9 – 19, 2009. The G+J press building will welcome various children’s authors, as well as authors such as Daniel Kehlmann, Elke Heidenreich and Alfred Grosser.