It’s November, and that means it’s time to celebrate another Volunteer of the Month at Words Alive. This month, we’re thrilled to recognize Gabrielle Heide for her service to the organization!
Gabrielle (right) with her husband, Steve (left).
Gabrielle first joined Words Alive three years ago after relocating to San Diego with her husband, Steve. She was looking for a way to get to know and support her new community through volunteering, while also creating a new routine for herself. Gabrielle discovered our Where the Wild Books Are service events through HandsOn San Diego and invited her husband, Steve, to join her for a project at our office in downtown San Diego.
As a retired art teacher, supporting projects to help prepare and assemble Learning Kits for our Family Literacy, Read Aloud, and Adolescent Book Group programs really struck a chord with Gabrielle. At Words Alive, our Learning Kits come complete with a brand-new copy of the book title being used in the program, resource guides for caregivers, and a hands-on craft activity that supports play-based learning. Gabrielle loves the different types of art projects and activities that are included in the Learning Kits and giving families an opportunity to create fun memories together around reading.
One aspect of Words Alive’s programming that Gabrielle really appreciates is that all the supplies families need to participate in the tie-in craft activities comes included with each Learning Kit.
“I know from my own background that not everyone has support in learning and doing educational things, or has extra supplies to participate in extracurricular activities. I came from a poor family and hardship and trauma and all those kinds of things, but through it all I was taught to value education. The one thing my mom always said was, “get your education, because once you have it, they can never take it away.”
Gabrielle (right) shares literacy resources with the community at the first annual KPBS Book Festival.
“I’m really proud of what we do at Words Alive” Gabrielle shared, “so when people say ‘Hey, what are you doing? What have you got going on this week?’ I jump right in and tell them about the work Steve and I do for the organization. I share information about where we are at, as a country, with literacy and try to plant a seed in people. With a lot of things, people just aren’t aware… even if you hit them over the head with it. It can take time to sink in.”
While Gabrielle is a regular at Where the Wild Books Are, she’s gearing up for a new project with Words Alive — supporting the 2025-2026 Champions for Youth campaign! Champions for Youth is a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign where Words Alive is one of four local nonprofit organizations that have been selected by the Century Club of San Diego and Farmers Insurance to receive funding and outreach support. This fundraising campaign gives donors the chance to help Words Alive earn funds from the Farmers Cares Bonus Pool and continues to be the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year.
“For me, being a Champion means helping and making something better than it was before. It’s about being kind and realizing where people are. I like being a Champion because I like to help in little ways. That’s one of the things that hooked me about Words Alive. I was new to San Diego, I was newly retired, and I felt lost. I went to a Where the Wild Books Are and the staff talked about moving the needle on literacy.”
The rest, as they say, was history. Gabrielle found a home where she felt like she could make a difference. Being a Champion for Youth just gives her the opportunity to share her love of Words Alive with more folks while she’s walking her dog around the neighborhood.
When asked if there was a moment from previous Champions for Youth campaigns that stood out to her, Gabrielle shared a story about receiving a donation from someone she didn’t think had been listening to her appeal.
“I had just mentioned it in passing not thinking that it would go anywhere, and I didn’t think that it resonated with her, but it did! I actually saw her last week and she came to me and said, “Hey, when does the fundraiser begin? You’re participating again right?” and I immediately said, “Yes, yes we are!”
If you’re considering becoming a Champion for Youth, Gabrielle has a message for you: “The Words Alive staff makes it really easy to participate. It’s easy and it’s not like you’re saying, ‘Hey, I need that $20 back that I lent you for those burritos.’ It’s not an awkward conversation, it’s an invitation to help make something better together. People are always looking for ways to give back, they just aren’t always sure how.”
BOOK Q&A
Did you have a favorite book growing up, or is there a book that has had a big impact on you?
My favorite book of all time was as a child, a giant Leonardo da Vinci book that was all pictures of his designs and inventions. It was big, glossy, beautiful. I of course had Dr. Suess, but it was Leonardo da Vinci that I hung out with.
Do you have a special memory of reading with a caring adult from when you were a child?
When I was little there was so much chaos in my house, and I was the youngest. I remember my mom telling people to help me with this and that, but people were always running in different directions. I don’t have memories of people sitting down to read with me, but my mom was a librarian and there were always books around so I had lots of access.
What are you currently reading, or do you have a favorite book to recommend to others?
I have a whole closet full of children’s books because I love the illustrations. I love the Fan Brothers and Oliver Jeffers. I have so many children’s books — I’ve already read three today to my granddaughter! When I have a chance to read something else it’s usually like a Brene Brown or Augusten Bouroughs.