Kathy Rossol reads as a way of “investing in our future.” As a child she loved listening to stories read aloud; later she enjoyed reading to her daughter. Now she shares her love of books with the children at Seattle First A.M.E. CWB in Rainier Valley.

A child in this program (who speaks little English) used to cry every time her mother dropped her off. However, when Kathy began reading the book Abiyoyo (by Pete Seeger), the little girl began to hop and sing along with the book, “Abiyoyo, abiyoyo….” Moments like this are Kathy’s favorite. When the children begin to count and point out colors as Kathy shares the story of a llama in red pajamas waiting for llama mama to tuck him in, she knows her reading is making a difference.

In 2008, Kathy heard President Obama speak at Seattle Center and decided, “I’ve got to put my money where my mouth is.” Passionate about the importance of reading, she began her own non-profit organization called Open Doorways Reading Room. Kathy realized that many middle-school students were missing the opportunity to enjoy the fun and thought-provoking experience books can provide, so she began reading aloud to seventh-graders after school. The same year, she became a Volunteer Reader.

By the end of the school year, students in Kathy’s Seattle First A.M.E. class are on the cusp of reading. They identify letters and sound them out while becoming confident in these skills. Kathy observes the children progress from simply repeating sounds to repeating words to forming sentences; she states, “You could see it, the light bulb was going on.”