FEATURED READ FOR A CAUSE LITERACY CHAMPIONS

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Name: Alan St. Jean

Role: Founder of The Young Authors Foundation, Children’s Author, Speaker

Hometown: Galena, Ohio

Nominator: Kristin Schultz

Following a twenty year career in business, Galena, Ohio resident Alan St. Jean decided to pursue his passion for writing books and composing music. But his choice was about more than just following his own heart: it was about inspiring as many other teachers, parents, authors, and artists to join him in his mission to reignite a love for literacy among today’s youth.

“Research shows that a child who connects on an emotional level to a book between the ages of 6-11 is changed in positive and significant ways that can affect them for the rest of their life.  But kids are reading less and less, at an alarming level. We can't get rid of video games, so we need to compete with them. The Young Authors Foundation is committed to raising the bar when it comes to children's books. Our resolve is to get their attention, get them to read, and teach them to write. By lighting a spark, the Foundation hopes to encourage other authors and illustrators to do the same: to do better, to be better and hopefully to make this world a little better because of it.” 

Organization: Stockhands Horses for Healing

Location: Delaware, Ohio

Program: Read with the Horses

After witnessing the instant calming effect their horses had on children with autism, Tim and Lisa Funk decided to expand their reach and their mission to help as many people as they could. In 2014, they founded Stockhands Horses for Healing in an effort to share the peace, healing, and magic of their horses to those who needed it most.  Over the years, Stockhands has provided equine facilitated activities to veterans, adults, and children with developmental, mental, physical, and emotional disabilities and challenges. And in 2019, Stockhands launched its “Read with the Horses” program, wherein children can visit the barn to read to the horses the second Saturday of every month. Program founder and volunteer Michelle Lowe explained the magic it creates:

“It is absolutely amazing watching students who are typically hesitant to read aloud with expression reading to the horses in the silliest voices, students who are resistant to sharing their writing spending two hours reading stories they had written, students whose confidence starts growing right before our eyes, all while the horses attentively listen to the students, providing a judgement-free zone for them to explore their love of reading.”

Name: Laurie Patterson

Title: Berne Union Elementary Librarian

Hometown: Ormond Beach, Florida

Nominator: Cindy Saunders

Laurie Patterson has served as Berne Union Elementary School’s Librarian for the past six years, a role she calls her “dream job.”  Motivated by the belief that reading forms the backbone of education, Laurie’s passion lies in helping others and inspiring children to learn to love books as well as their unique personalities and interests.

“Teaching children reading changes their view of their world and the people around them.  My job as a librarian is to try to identify a book that they will enjoy reading.  I have readers at all skill levels and it can be a challenge to find ‘the book,’ but when it happens it is like an amazing transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly!  I am motivated to keep shining the light of possibilities into each of the children I come in contact with.  I see each of their uniqueness that has been gifted to them and try to show them that they are loved, seen, and heard.”

  Name: The Human Library Organization

Hometown: Copenhagen, Denmark

For the past 22 years, the Human Library Organization hosts events, readings, and discussions utilizing “human books” in more than 80 countries. Volunteers from traditionally stigmatized groups volunteer to serve as books, answering candid questions from their lived experiences, hoping to challenge readers’ assumptions, misunderstandings, and biases.  No matter the topic—whether a mental health or medical diagnosis, homelessness, addiction, religion, sexual identity—the HLO serves as a place where real people are on loan to readers: a place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated, and answered. What originally started as a small social experiment has grown into a worldwide mission to "unjudge" others.

“We wanted to give those who are misunderstood and negatively judged a chance, or rather an opportunity, to explain who they really are,” HLO Manager Andrea Trudslev explained.  “We all want to be understood and belong somewhere. But we also all have bias and stereotypes and negative prejudices. Not everyone has the opportunity to find out and explore whether what we believe about other people in our community is true within a safe space. That is what the Human Library Organization tries to do: make the world a little bit more inclusive one reading at a time.”

Name: Dr. Hindi Krinsky

Hometown: Long Island, NY

Organization: Hindi’s Libraries

Dr. Hindi Krinsky was a beloved wife, mother, friend, and teacher who passed away suddenly in 2018, but whose light, legacy, and love for literacy lives on. What started as a Little Library in Long Island, New York, has now become Hindi’s Libraries: an international outreach program that has collected and donated over 400,000 books in just four years. Through the generosity, dedication, and vision of her family, friends, and community, Hindi continues to make a difference and spark a passion for reading in the lives of so many. As Hindi’s Libraries’ co-founder Leslie Gang explained:

“In 2018, we lost a special soul - Dr. Hindi Krinsky – educator, avid bookworm, and mother of 5. Through Hindi’s Libraries, which was started in her name, we seek to get books into the hands of children who need them most. Reading provides children with the opportunity to explore the world, learn about the endless possibilities that await them. So many families are unable to purchase books for their young ones- or do not have libraries available to them- and it’s so imperative they have access to reading material - so they can be inspired and empowered to succeed and to persevere too.”

Name: Gina Komorowski

Hometown: Pickerington, OH

Title: Gifted Intervention Specialist 

Nominator: Leanne Fabrycki Ross

Gina Komorowski is a Gifted Intervention Specialist at Harmon Middle School in Pickerington, Ohio. After beginning her teaching career in New Jersey, Gina has spent the last 9 years serving the students of Central Ohio. As a life-long lover of literacy and believer in the power of a quality education, Gina seeks to instill those same beliefs in her students and colleagues every day. 

“Education as a key that opens the doors that are in your path; you just need to persevere and take advantage of the opportunities presented to you. Likewise, literacy can act as a passport for students--opening their eyes to different perspectives, new life experiences, and even help students aspire to be more than they realize they could be. Honestly, the right book (just like the right teacher) can change a life.”

Name: Mike Uetrecht

Hometown: Columbus, OH

Organization: Auntie V’s Corner of Kindness

For the past seven years, Mike Uetrecht has curated kindness at the corner of Ann and Sycamore Streets near downtown Columbus, Ohio. Auntie V’s Corner of Kindness, named after Mike’s aunt, best friend, and biggest cheerleader Veronica Barrett, provides area residents with books, food, and clothing throughout the year. More than that, though, it seeks to give its neighbors an open, inclusive, safe place full of hope and positivity. 

“My vision is for Auntie V’s Corner of Kindness to be a place of brightness and hope that kids and adults alike can come and feel not judged but welcomed to pick out books to read or, if needed, food for themselves or their family. A place that, if you are able, you can contribute and use as an example of giving back and kindness. A way to teach your kids about giving. My aunt and I volunteered together a lot. She was the kindest soul I knew, and I really feel the Corner of Kindness shows her spirit to the world: an empathetic spot in this not always empathetic world.”

Name: Sean Patterson

Title: Founder, 411 Foundation; Coach, Liberty Christian Academy

Hometown: Steubenville, Ohio / Blacklick, Ohio

Sean Patterson is on a simple mission: to help others however he can. Whether it is teaching his players how to play with grit, integrity, and humility, or sponsoring blessing bags and back-to-school drives through his 411 Foundation in honor of his father, Sean aims to live every day through the lens of his favorite quote: “You have not lived today until you do something for someone who can never repay you.” 

“Being a positive, steady influence for another person is so important.  So many negative things exist in the world, and the negative energy seems to attract so much focus. It permeates into places, and I really want to combat that by being the change, and the lift that we all want to see in the world. My dad was a baseball and football coach when I was growing up. Knowing how he had instilled values and positive character traits in young players was something I carried over to my adulthood. Now, I am able to coach my son, and model for him that kind of positive interaction with other players.”

Name: Tracie Anderson

Hometown: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Nominators: Max and Jake Kress

Tracie Anderson is a third-year student in the University of Akron’s Early Childhood Inclusive Teacher Preparation Program and a preschool teacher at The Church in Silver Lake Preschool, where she is known for her love and commitment to both her students and her community. 

Tracie is passionate about sharing her love for literacy with all children—including those for whom it does not come easily. As someone who struggled to read as a child herself, Tracie prides herself in meeting children wherever they are in their learning journey, celebrating the little moments, and leading with empathy.

“On the days the students are having a hard time I try to remember they have life happening outside of school too,” she explained.  “If they’re acting out or withdrawn it’s my job to be there for them and help them as much as I can. I’ve had a lot of hard days myself this past year, as I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Going to school and putting on a happy face was hard some days. The kids' laughter, smiles, jokes, and innocence always gave me hope to get through the day.”

Name: Kristi Gatchel 

Hometown: Fremont, Ohio 

Title: Lecturer & Writing Consultant at Eastern Michigan University; Partnership & Program Coordinator for YpsiWrites 

After her family encouraged her to follow her dreams into an academic field that she was passionate about, Kristi Gatchel went back to school to earn two degrees in Children’s Literature from Eastern Michigan University.  Since then, she has used her skill, passion, and positivity to spread her love for literacy to everyone around her.   Whether teaching college literacy courses, working at EMU’s student Writing Center, or supporting her community through YpsiWrites, Kristi believes in the power of words and their ability to make a difference in the lives of others.   

 “You never know what you are doing, big or small, that will make an impact on those around you. . . . [P]erhaps your kind smile or compliment changes their mood or outlook on the world which causes them to 'pass it on.' That one small action on your part has the ability to start a tidal wave of difference that impacts far more people than you will ever realize.” 

Name: Kyle Ramsay 

Hometown: Dallas, Texas 

Title: Principal & Athletic Director at Fairmont Heights Middle School 

Kyle Ramsay has always been drawn to learning and teaching. Believing that literacy and education are “the gateways to access the world,” Kyle chose to make a career out of providing his students the keys to those gateways.  From Dallas, Texas to Columbus, Ohio to Newark, New Jersey, Kyle has touched the lives of countless students in various teaching, coaching, administrative, and leadership roles.  And they, in turn, have also touched his. 

 “My students are immensely resilient, caring, and aware,” he said with pride.  “Seeing kids from a tough city change their lives and go to college gets me teary every year.  My first year of teaching, I had two students that I have mentored up until day.  They’re now college graduates and business owners, but when I met them they were troubled teenagers with no parents and packed a lot of anger. Seeing them succeed and knowing I can call them any time of day is the source of my will to keep going when the going gets tough every day.”    

Name: Christal Holliday-Firmin

Hometown: DMV

Title: Author; Founder, Owner, & Visionary for Holliday-Firmin Books & CJAA Publishing

Christal Holliday-Firmin is an author, business owner, and social media creative, sharing her light with the world every day. Christal draws on both her educational background (MBA and BA in Sociology) and her love for her family to inspire her to write, read, create, inspire, and promote literacy wherever and however she can. Whether it be through her book ("Mommy & Daddy's Christmas Treat") or through her social media presence (@theechildrenspoet), Christal seeks to change the world one post, one book, one child at a time. 

“Children’s literacy is extremely important to me. Reading is one of the major building blocks of their future. Learning to love books, poetry, and reading with family/friends will help our future leaders to want to continue to learn and expand their vocabulary. In addition, it will help children foster positive relationships, be an advocate for diversity/inclusion, want to travel, try new things, learn how to express their feelings, and affirm themselves. I have made a promise to myself, to continue to post positive content, and to write positive stories that could potentially heal the world.”

Name: Cam Rascoe

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA 

What Makes Him a Literacy Champion: 

Cam Rascoe considers writing a blessing and a calling.   In 2010, Rascoe self-published his first book, which was quickly followed by another six over the next four years.  Over the years, Cam has used his pen and his voice to inspire, motivate, and help others.  Through these writings and  speaking engagements, Rascoe seeks to use his God-given abilities for good.

"Mentoring and motivational speaking are some of my most uplifting and rewarding activities. Sharing the knowledge and wisdom I've gained in this life comes freely. I keep it light and somewhat humorous or entertaining but I am very serious about how my message is received. Assisting the youth in finding success and joy in this life through encouragement and cheer warms my heart. It takes a village to raise a child and this is me doing my part."    

Name: Bia Hamed

Title: Program Director of Digital Divas & Digital Dudes at Eastern Michigan University

What Makes Her a Literacy Champion: 

As the Director of K-12 Outreach within the College of Engineering & Technology at EMU, Bia oversees Digital Divas and Digital Dudes, two innovative, progressive programs that encourage youth to pursue STEM education. Technological literacy is something Bia is passionate about, both personally and passionately, and something she believes every student should have access and exposure to.

“When there is a will there is a way, but you need to know things exist to be accessed. Navigating my way through college as a first-generation student was full of trials and tribulations, and I wasn’t aware of all the different majors available to me as a woman. My journey has inspired me to help others find their path to a better future by helping them navigate the college system and making sure they know their options.”

 Name: Matthew Tyla 

Hometown: Stow, Ohio / Fairfield Twp., Ohio

Nominator: Ann Swigart

What Makes Him a Literacy Champion:

As a former student-athlete at Bowling Green University and a certified English teacher, Matt Tyla has found a way to combine three of his favorite interests: football, literacy, and helping others.  At Fairfield Senior High School, Coach Tyla serves as Co-Director of the high school's FLEX Program and an Offensive Line Coach with the Varsity Football Team.  He also oversees the logistics of the Football Team’s Reading Program, which pairs Varsity athletes with elementary school students in an effort to promote literacy and foster a love for reading.  

Whether lessons about literacy, game time strategy, or paying it forward, one thing is clear: Coach Tyla is motivating an entire generation of readers, thinkers, and givers.        

 Name: Rachel McAnespie 

Hometown: Lancaster, Ohio

Title: Preschool Teacher, St. Mary's Preschool

What Makes Her a Literacy Champion:        

In her 7th year as an educator, Rachel McAnespie describes teaching as something she was “just meant to do.” After seeing her with her students, there is little doubt about it: teaching is her calling.  But in Ms. Rachel's classroom, it's about more than teaching ABCs and 123s:  it’s about building foundations. 

"I’m passionate about being an educator, because I love to watch the kids learn and grow. With the age level that I am teaching, it is about so much more than learning how to count and memorize letters. They are learning all of their foundations for life and I love to be apart of that. The amount kids grow and mature in such a short period of time is amazing. To be able to help kids do that, is truly special." 

 Name: Corinne "Renee" Blackford

Hometown: Medina & Hilliard, Ohio

Nominator: CND Staff

What Makes Her a Literacy Champion:        

Renee’s passion as a Certified Prevention Specialist for Community for New Direction is evident. Over the past 21 years, Renee has committed to exemplifying “intentional integrity” and building positive relationships with youth, families, and schools in Central Ohio.  To Renee, promoting literacy through CND’s in-school, after-school, and summer camp programs is important on a variety of levels: “Access to literacy enables people to keep up with current events, communicate effectively and understand world issues,” she explains.  “Improved access results in improved literacy rates that can help reduce poverty and crime, help prevent the spread of some diseases through gaining information, and enhance cultural diversity.”   

 Name: Betsey Hines

Hometown: Upper Arlington, Ohio

Nominator: HFF Staff

What Makes Her a Literacy Champion:      

As a long-time volunteer reading mentor at the Homeless Families Foundation, Betsey Hines has built mutual relationships based on trust, value, and love with her mentees. But Betsey believes she has learned more from the children than they have learned from her. “[T]he real learning has been what [my mentees] have taught me in our weekly talks. I see what systemic racism is. I have seen why poverty and education by zip code can lead to a future of frustration with a world that does not treat all equally,” she explains.  That understanding has fueled Betsey’s commitment to be the change she wants to see in the world: “I will continue to volunteer, not for what I can do for others, but because of what doing for others has brought to my life.” 

 Name: Dr. Philip TK Daniel

Title: Professor Emeritus of Educational Administration, The Ohio State University

What Makes Dr. Daniel a Literacy Champion:    Mid-way through his 48th year of teaching,  Dr. Daniel has dedicated nearly half a century to educating the next generation of educators.  His commitment to his students and the pursuit of education reform has earned him countless accolades, including OSU's prestigious Distinguished Service Award and a spot within the College of Education and Human Ecology's Hall of Fame.  

But the true source of Dr. Daniel's motivation is not an award; it is the opportunity to effect meaningful change in his students and their work.  "The quality and understanding of good teachers will impact the quality and understanding of their students," he explained.  "Not just what they learn, but what they value." 

 Name: WAGS

Founder: Trudy Debolt

Location: Mt. Vernon, Ohio

What Makes WAGS a Literacy Champion: 

  WAGS (Working Dog Awareness Group) is an organization that is transforming students and shelter dogs one book at a time. Founded by Trudy Debolt, a 6th grade English teacher,  WAGS aims to honor the military dogs of the Vietnam War while helping shelter dogs become more adoptable. Every Saturday, WAGS students visit the Knox County Animal Shelter to read to its K9 residents. 

 WAGS fulfills its motto, “Keeping hope alive” by teaching students that through reading and spending time with a shelter animal, they save a life and foster hope for a better future.

 Name: Emily Kridel

Nominator: BBBS Staff

Camp Location: South Bloomingville, Ohio

What Makes Her a Literacy Champion:  As the Education Director at Camp Oty'Okwa, Emily has shared her love for reading with countless campers, knowing that books can be a way for children to connect with themselves and others.  

"The three pillars of Camp Oty'Okwa are Esteem, Empathy, and Example. I think reading helps kids grow in all these areas; they can be empowered to access information for themselves, they can learn more about the experiences of others, and they can see examples of all kinds of people in books. . . .  I want to our campers, and all kids, learn to love reading because I know it will expand their world and improve their lives."

 Name: Noreen Rohda

Hometown: Powell, Ohio

Nominator: Kara Gray

What Makes Her a Literacy Champion:  As a preschool interventionist specialist for the special needs preschool program with Olentangy Local Schools, Noreen's love for a good story is infectious.  As her nominator wrote, "You can see the joy of reading in her students faces every day."  For Noreen, childhood literacy sets children up for long-term success: "Encouraging young people to read is important to me because if they have a love for reading it will become a life long love. It will also make all the other subjects easier as they move through school."   

Name: Natalie Tannehill

Hometown: Akron, Ohio

Nominator: Michele Whitmer

What Makes Her a Literacy Champion:  As a high school language arts teacher, Natalie balances a rigorous course schedule, teaching classes such as AP Language and Composition, Contemporary English, and Journalism. In Natalie's view, "encouraging young people to read helps them develop a view of the world beyond what they see and experience each day. Reading inspires imaginations, develops ideas, broadens our horizons, and creates an enthusiasm for life. As a teacher, I’m blessed to have the opportunity to connect young people with books, and to watch them develop what hopefully becomes a lifelong love of reading."  

Name: Sara Wolosiansky

Hometown: Green, Ohio

Nominator: Jillian Boone

What Makes Her a Literacy Champion: 

It was important that I honor my mom, Sara Wolosiansky, as Read for a Cause's first Literacy Champion.  From the time I could misspell words and draw stick figures, she has encouraged me to read, write, and create. And as a speech therapist, her hard work and generous heart at Community Speech Services has made an impact on thousands of children and adults. Finally, she never, ever, denies her grandchildren 'one more story!' despite exasperated it's-way-past-bedtime sighs from those grandchildren's parents.

Love you, Mom.