The Gift of Reading:
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My first grade teacher could see the proverbial writing on the wall. There was the usual classroom library under the windows. Every week we had time when we could browse the books in the library and "check" one or two out. Until I couldn't fit any more in my desk... So, Mrs. Leiske did the only thing she could think of. She assigned me a second desk. I had one for my daily work, and an entire desk to hold the books that I was reading. I was blessed with a capacity to read and comprehend at a very young age.But there are millions of adults inside the United States of America who cannot decipher a map, check what their bank account balance is, or even grasp the checklist their supervisor hands them at the beginning of their shift. If you are like me, it is hard to comprehend that someone could live like that. Yet every day, there are adults among us who hide the fact that the street signs are gibberish, the restaurant menu is incomprehensible, and the health care system is a nightmare. We can do something about this! We need to do something about this. I've decided this year that I am going to do something about this. Every week I spend time with a writing group called Rapid Writers. We spend 2 hours on Tuesday mornings (my time at least) working on writing projects that help us advance ourselves in our professions. In that group, I met Larissa Phillips. Larissa joined our group to have the accountability to work on a book series that teaches reading to children. That series, Rex Runs Off!, it turned out was a spinoff project of her main mission in life which is her charity that works to provide volunteers with the skills to teach adults how to read. The Volunteer Literacy Project (VLP) is Larissa's gift to the whole world. Devoting her indomitable skills, she has created a program that educates volunteers in the intricacy of teaching adults to read. She has books, technology, and scripts that have changed the lives of many adults. And that was the mission that I decided to take up as my gift this year. My family is beyond the time when we exchange personal gifts. We now focus on having family and friends time. Because of that, I decided this year I would donate $100 to The Volunteer Literacy Project, but then even more, I would use all of my connections to build a level of support to help the VLP reach their current goal of $10,000. We're almost half-way to that goal... That is why you are reading this email. Last week I completed a project which helps Larissa tell her story in what I have found to be very compelling terms. I want to get this message out into as many hands as I can before the end of the year. YOU could be the connection that Larissa and the VLP needs to reach their goal. Here are 3 ways you can help:
Thank you for your attention. So, let me close with my hope that you had Happy Holiday, a Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza, Happy Hanukah, or any other celebration you follow at this time of year. I'm grateful for you in my life.
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