Winter Yearick - Words Alive Volunteer of the Month - December 2016

Please join us in congratulating Winter Yearick– Words Alive Volunteer of the Month for December 2016!

Winter joined the Words Alive family earlier this year, and has jumped right in!  She began her involvement participating with the organization’s Event Committee, and was an invaluable source of support at the event in October. Winter exhibited such positivity and professionalism while monitoring the event’s silent auction.  She stayed past her shift to ensure the event wrapped up smoothly, and calmly handled all aspects of the closeout that were passed her way.

On top of volunteering for the luncheon, Winter shared her love of reading by supporting the Adolescent Book Group Program. Over the summer, while school wasn't in session, she volunteered to review books to add to our curriculum list. Reviewing books for our curriculum list allows for more options for our teachers.  This is how we learn of great books to share with our students and thus, enhance our program.

Winter, thank you for your time and dedication to Words Alive. Every little detail, and second of your time is appreciated.  We're grateful to have you on the Words Alive volunteer team!

Check Out the Volunteer of the Month Interview with Winter Below!

Winter, tell us a little about yourself! 
I’m a business professional originally from the East Coast, but love being in San Diego now. Most of my time is divided between work and my family, but I try to find time to enjoy all that the area has to offer. I also love to cook and read in my spare time.

How long have you been volunteering with Words Alive, and how did you get involved? 
I started volunteering in July of this year, so I’m still a newbie to the group!  I wanted an organization that I could relate to and felt passionate about their cause. I’ve always been a big reader and want others to share in my love of books, so when I saw Words Alive pop up in an email from someone I was intrigued. The more I read about the organization and the more I learned about the challenges the San Diego community faces, the more strongly I felt to get involved. I reached out to the group, and here I am now!

What is the most rewarding aspect of your volunteer service with Words Alive?
I really enjoyed seeing the fundraiser come together. To see so many people come together who feel passionately about literacy and opportunities for our youth is inspiring, and reminds me that we all have the ability to make a positive impact on someone else’s life. Surrounding myself with other people who want to make a difference has been the most rewarding part for me.

And, by the way, what are you reading lately?
I’m currently working my way through the Tess Gerritsen ‘Rizzoli and Isles’ series. I’m on a murder mystery kick at the moment, but I’m also reading ‘Helen of Troy’ by Margaret George on the side- it helps to balance out the scary!

#LetsReadSD with the San Diego Council on Literacy

Did you know Words Alive is a proud affiliate of the San Diego Council on Literacy (SDCOL)?

For the past 30 years, the SDCOL has worked to bring awareness to the literacy cause in San Diego by uniting the community through advocacy, partnerships, resources, and coordination. As a convener, the SDCOL also brings together 30 affiliate literacy providers from across the county for networking, professional development, and resource sharing.

These opportunities have undoubtedly benefited Words Alive by connecting us with expertise of other passionate providers doing whatever it takes to create a more literate San Diego. And together, we certainly achieve more. Last year, the 30 affiliate partners of the SDCOL delivered no-cost literacy-building services to more than 170,000 children, youth, and adults across San Diego.

One of the central goals of the SDCOL is to instill the importance of literacy in the region. On that front, in 2014 the SDCOL spearheaded a Region that Reads campaign fostering partnerships with the 19 mayors of San Diego County in which each would support the work of the SDCOL. It also encouraged mayors to designate a liaison from each city to ensure greater connectivity and communication between the cities and literacy providers on the ground. Words Alive is proud to have contributed towards this effort as a member of the public policy committee. The SDCOL also shares resources with its affiliate programs, where most recently, the SDCOL contributed to our Read Aloud Program with a donation of new, high-quality children's books that will be distributed through our program-wide giveaway later this month.

Currently, the SDCOL is promoting their #LetsReadSD campaign to empower individuals to share their love of reading on social media. We encourage you to "get caught reading" this month, and learn more about the SDCOL and its affiliate programs to see the amazing work we do together!

Click here for more information about the San Diego Council on Literacy and its affiliated programs, and on the image below for more on the SDCOL's #LetsReadSD campaign.

The Gift of Reading

Literacy is the foundation of our success. It allows us to learn, to teach, and to make change in the community. Our three programs tackle literacy issues among children, teens, and families, each with the shared goal of creating life-long learners. Establishing a commitment to reading gives individuals the confidence to change their communities and take charge of their life.

Our programs inspire a commitment to literacy early in life so children and teens do not remain illiterate into their adult lives. Our Read Aloud Program sends trained volunteers into elementary classrooms and engages children with stories. Teen Services ensures young adults have a space to discuss novels and can pursue higher education with our Westreich Scholarship Program. The Family Literacy Program empowers parents to make reading a priority in their home and teaches effective methods of doing so. Each of our programs aims to prevent illiteracy later in life by engaging children, teens, and families with reading early on in their development.

Words Alive is proud to offer these programs that empower participants in all stages of life. In order for us to continue giving the gift of reading, we need your generosity and support. This holiday season, when reading a card, your favorite novel, or this blog post, be thankful for the opportunities you had to become a developed reader. Help Words Alive create this same experience for others in San Diego by making a donation. Your generosity will help advocate for literacy and allow us to give the gift that keeps on giving. 

Literacy is important; it is the foundation of success in our society, and Words Alive strives to ensure we all have the same opportunities to achieve our goals.

Support Words Alive with AmazonSmile

Love using Amazon for your online shopping needs and also love helping Words Alive? You can do both! AmazonSmile allows any account holder to give 0.5% of their purchases to a charity of their choice. It's a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no extra cost to you. When using AmazonSmile, you'll find the same great low prices, wide selection, and convenient shopping experience as you do on Amazon.com. The extra benefit: giving back to your favorite organization!

Getting started is simple, too. Visit smile.amazon.com and log in using your regular Amazon account, then choose Words Alive as the organization you'd like to support. Tens of millions of items are marked as "Eligible for AmazonSmile donation" on their product detail page, making it easy for you to give back to Words Alive. We encourage you to use AmazonSmile whenever shopping online, but we've set up a special holiday wishlist just in time for Cyber Monday!

Here's how to find the wishlist: once logged into your AmazonSmile account, hover over the Lists tab in the upper right-hand corner near the Cart. Click "Find a List or Registry," and type in Words Alive to the search bar. Check the sidebar on the left to make sure you're looking at our holiday book wishlist, then begin shopping! You can choose to have the books shipped directly to us, or you can send them to your home and drop them off in our office Monday through Thursday from 9am-3pm. 

Find great deals online on Cyber Monday and help support Words Alive while you shop. The books featured on our wishlist will be used in our Adolescent Book Group, Read Aloud, and Family Literacy programs and help inspire a life-long commitment to literacy. Purchasing books on Cyber Monday and donating them to Words Alive will help us give the gift of reading this holiday season!

Kathryn Kelly - Words Alive Volunteer of the Month - November 2016

Please join us in congratulating Kathryn Kelly – Words Alive Volunteer of the Month for November 2016!

Kathryn Kelly, University of San Diego senior, joined our team in September as the Development and Events Intern. Kathryn is incredibly organized in her approach to event management. She helped create all Social Media content for the 13th Annual Words Alive Author’s Luncheon including the beautiful slide show presentation at the event. She also helped organize in-kind donations for the raffle and silent auction. Kathryn’s ability to see what work needs to be done and accomplish the tasks at hand has been incredibly helpful in ensuring our success in raising support and awareness for Words Alive. Kathryn will complete her internship with Words Alive by helping us with our #GivingTuesday campaign. An opportunity for us to continue the excitement started at the luncheon and remind people that they can “Give the Gift of Reading” this year.

Check Out the Volunteer of the Month Interview with Kathryn Below!

Kathryn, tell us a little about yourself! 
I’m a senior at University of San Diego, where I’m majoring in Communications with double minors in Sociology and Marketing. If it wasn’t obvious by what I study, I’m definitely a people person! I get my energy from being around others and hearing their stories. When I’m not working or in class, I love hiking or being at the beach. I try to make it to the beach in some capacity at least once a week! I hope to pursue a career in corporate event planning or public relations, and interning at Words Alive has helped me take steps towards that goal.

How long have you been volunteering with Words Alive, and how did you get involved? 
I began as the Events and Development Intern at Words Alive in September.  I was initially drawn to this position because it gave me the opportunity to get experience in event planning and marketing. I loved that Words Alive works with children, teens, and families and supports a cause I care about. Half of my family is made up of teachers and principals, so education and literacy have always been close to my heart!

What is the most rewarding aspect of your volunteer service with Words Alive?
I love that I’m able to gain experience in so many different areas. I’ve been able to see how a big fundraiser is planned, what approaches are successful in marketing certain events, and the importance of relationship building in non-profit work. The most rewarding moment so far was seeing the Author’s Luncheon came together. I thought the event was such a success, and it was very rewarding to see all of the pieces fall into place. So much detail, attention, and hard work was put into the luncheon by a huge number of people, and being a small part of that team was really rewarding.

 And, by the way, what are you reading lately?
I’m currently reading a lot of textbooks, but I try to squeeze in some fun reading when I can! The book I most recently finished was Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee. I loved it!

Give the Gift of Reading

On November 29, Words Alive participated in a global day of giving, #GivingTuesday. We used this day focused on charity to kick-off our holiday campaign that will continue through the end of 2016. In order to continue inspiring a life-long commitment to reading, Words Alive needs your help to give books, volunteer, or make a donation. This holiday season, help us give the gift of reading to children, teens, and families all across San Diego.

Here's how you can help:
Give Books -- Like many of you, Words Alive has a holiday wishlist! We've compiled a list of books for our literacy programs that we believe our participants will love. We've partnered with Warwick's to ensure that all listed titles are available at their La Jolla location or online at www.warwicks.com. Our office will be accepting book donations Monday through Thursday from 9am-3pm, starting now!

Volunteer -- We are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help out our organization. You'll be given the opportunity to serve on a committee, work in our office, or become part of one of our three literacy programs. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, visit our volunteer page.

Make a Donation -- Words Alive relies on your generous donations to fund our programs and community outreach. Making a donation will help support our Read Aloud, Teen Services, and Family Literacy programs and allow us to give the gift of reading throughout 2017. Help us to continue bringing our community together through literacy and show that reading matters!

Words Alive is excited to be using #GivingTuesday as a platform for kicking off our holiday campaign. We look forward to receiving books, enlisting volunteers, and generating donations throughout the rest of 2016. The impact you make now will allow us to broaden our reach in 2017. Thank you!

Making an Impact in the Community

At Words Alive, our mission is to open opportunities for life success by inspiring a commitment to reading. Since 1999, we have set our sites on improving literacy in San Diego County and giving children the tools they need to become great readers.

This past June, Words Alive awarded $30,000 in scholarships to 11 outstanding former Adolescent Book Group participants with our Westreich Scholarship Program. The award recipients were invited to join us at our 13th Annual Author's Luncheon on October 19th. Diana Gonzalez Soto, one of the scholarship recipients and luncheon attendees, posted on social media about how the event and Jodi Picoult's conversation resonated with her.

“I did not expect the author of Small Great Things to be so blunt about race and racism while being aware of her privilege in being white. I am happy I was able to hear her opinion on the topic of race, as she mentioned most white people don’t like to discuss that topic...I love that she mentioned that she didn’t write this book for people like me (people of color), we don’t need to be told of this, we live it! #bookschangelives”

During the author Q&A, Jodi Picoult mentioned that our book shelves are a reflection of ourselves and our world. She encouraged everyone in attendance to go home and take a look at the authors they read. What is the color of their skin? What is their economic background? Are they similar to us, or different? We tend to surround ourselves with people who look like us and come from similar backgrounds, but imagine the possibilities if we embraced those who are different! By choosing to read about the experiences of those who are different from us, we can expand our knowledge and have a better understanding of the world around us. Soto's reflection reminds us that we can find common ground with anyone, even those who appear to live very different lives from our own. 

Words Alive strives to bridge this gap and create opportunities for different groups to come together in collaboration. We want to build stronger readers, life-long learners, and encourage children and teens to be a voice of change within their communities.

“I am fortunate enough to be part of this organization that is helping me in many aspects of my life, most importantly in my desire and need to continue a higher education.”

— Diana Gonzalez Soto

Author's Luncheon - Thank You!

On Wednesday, October 19th, Words Alive celebrated our 13th Annual Author's Luncheon. We had such an amazing time at this event getting to thank our sponsors, volunteers, and donors that help us change lives through reading. Words Alive was able to raise over $200,000 through marketplace proceeds, the silent auction and raffle, and the generous support of those who attended. With these funds, we will be able to reach more children, teens, and families across San Diego and Orange Counties and inspire them to become life-long readers and learners. 

We enjoyed hearing about the inspiration behind Small Great Things and how Jodi Picoult's passion for social issues shaped the novel. Small Great Things was released on October 11 and is already a #1 New York Times Best Seller! Thank you Warwick's for making Jodi's appearance possible.

Special thanks to our program moderator, Sam Zien, and interview moderator, Lacy Crawford, for being such an integral part of the luncheon. We loved having Sam keep up the energy in the room and hearing Lacy’s thought-provoking questions about Small Great Things. They were both invaluable additions to our event.

Our event would not have been possible without the generous donations of our luncheon sponsors: Gurtin Municipal Bond Management, Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa, Geppetto's, P.S. Platinum Properties, ATTSavings.com, Christopher Weil and Company, and Ace Parking. 

Thank you to all those who donated to the raffle and silent auction or participated in our marketplace. We are so grateful to have partnerships with so many businesses and individuals throughout San Diego County. Your continuous donations to the luncheon provide Words Alive with so much support! 

Lastly, thank you to YOU — the table sponsors, donors, attendees, and those who are new or long-time supporters of Words Alive. Without your donations and countless volunteer hours, we would not be able to change the lives of so many children, teens, and families in our community. Whether you have been with us since 1999 or are just now discovering the work we do, thank you. Your support has given us the chance to be in over 215 classrooms, train over 500 volunteers, and continue the expansion of our programs. 

To keep up with our work, be sure to follow Words Alive on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We look forward to seeing you at our 14th Annual Author’s Luncheon next year!

Check out some of our favorite photos from the event:

Whole-Person Development

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The term whole-person development refers to the “holistic development of a person’s actions and behaviors as compared to just acquisition of specific content knowledge.”* While this is an idea commonly used in professional development and similar settings, Words Alive has come to embrace this concept of whole-person development when working with our Westreich Scholarship students.

When looking at different models of whole-person development, there are generally six different facets: emotional, interpersonal, professional, physical, wealth, environmental, and mental development.

Source: http://www.leadership-retreat.com/whole_person_Development.html

Every year approximately 10-15 students from our Teen Services program are awarded the Words Alive Westreich Scholarship in support of their pursuit of higher education. While many scholarship programs focus solely on the academic success of the recipients, we are much more interested in seeing our students develop as whole people. This is why we allow scholarship funds to be used not only for tuition, books, and strictly educational expenses but students are also eligible to receive funds to help with rent, food, childcare, clothing, travel, and other expenses. Each student is also paired with a mentor, who helps provide guidance, direction, and emotional support throughout their tenor with the scholarship program.

All of this is in-keeping with the tenants of whole-person development. After all, what good would money for school books be if you were having trouble paying your rent or buying food? By focusing on the bigger picture, this scholarship program is opening up opportunities for success for these students, whether that success be academic, emotional, financial, or interpersonal. Our relationship with these students started as an introduction of the joys and benefits of reading through our Teen Services programming in the classroom, and because of this scholarship program, we are able to witness this whole-person development in action.

*http://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/whole-person-development/37300

Warwick's and Words Alive present Jamie Metzl October 10th

Words Alive and Warwick's Books was recently introduced to an amazing author, Jamie Metzl. And we'd like to introduce him to you, too, and invite you to meet and discuss his latest book Sunday, October 10th at 7:30 pm.

An extraordinary thinker, Mr. Metzl is a Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Council and has served in the US National Security Council, the US State Department, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and with the United Nations in Cambodia. He appears frequently on national and international media, and his writing is featured regularly in publications around the world. He holds a PhD from Oxford, a JD from Harvard Law School, and is a magna cum laude graduate of Brown University. 

In his new book, Eternal Sonata, Mr. Metzl explores concepts of aging, immortality, and the lengths to which science can, or shold, prolong life. Eternal Sonata is a suspenseful, science-based literary thriller that poses the compelling philosophical question about how far we can and should go in wild pursuit of immortality.

We hope you wll join us Sunday, October 10th at 7:30 pm at Warwick's Books in La Jolla as Mr. Metzl reads from and discusses his new book.