November 2022 Newsletter


Thankful For Friends Like You

This Thanksgiving week, we are thankful for our many volunteer tutors, including the 109 new tutors who have signed up so far this year. Tutors power our program daily; we couldn’t do it without YOU! 

Thanks A Latte

This fall, Reading Power has kicked off a tutor appreciation program to honor our tutors for their commitment to fostering the promise of literacy. Each week, a tutor is randomly chosen to receive a Starbucks gift card that was generously donated.

This month's winners include Suzanne Neumann (L), Liz Gerskovich (R), and Freddie Hayes. Congratulations, and thank you for all you do.

Volunteers Make All The Difference

On a Saturday morning in early November, the Reading Power office was buzzing with volunteers who stickered over 800 books, prepared student learning materials, and packed Resource Fair giveaway bags.

Later this month, over 150 giveaway bags full of books, activity packets, and games were handed out to students at the North Chicago LEARN 6 Campus Resource Fair. Thank you to all of our volunteers for making both events so successful.

Welcome Debra Pucé, Reading Power Director of Development  

Reading Power recently welcomed Debra Pucé as the organization's first Director of Development. Debra will be working to develop and implement fundraising strategies to meet annual and long-range organizational goals. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the role, previously serving as Director of Development at the Ragdale Foundation in Lake Forest and Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving at Writers Theatre in Glencoe, IL. Welcome, Debra! We are excited about the guidance and growth you will bring to our team.

Giving Tuesday Is Almost Here

Next Tuesday, November 29th, is Giving Tuesday, one of the biggest giving days of the year. Reading Power's goal is to raise $6,000 in just 24 hours to provide the books, tools, and one-to-one support our Reading Power students need to help meet their literacy goals this year.  

 

Help us kickstart our campaign TODAY:  

Donate directly to Reading Power today
Start your own Reading Power Facebook fundraiser 

We've Got Spirit Wear, Yes We Do!

Show off your Reading Power love with branded apparel, coffee mugs, water bottles, blankets, hats, and more.


Order your Reading Power spirit wear today for expected delivery in two to three weeks.

In The Press

Lake Forest Award  



Reading Power is proud to have been selected as the 2022 Best of Lake Forest Awards winner in the Literacy Program category. Thank you for recognizing our mission to foster the promise of literacy.  

Kristin Fine: Meet a Mom Feature  



Thanks to Chicago North Shore Moms or featuring our very own Director of Programs, Kristin Fine. Learn more about her, including her Wordle streak, in the full article HERE.  

Our Mission

Working in partnership with underserved schools, 
Reading Power provides one-to-one tutoring during the school day 
for children in prekindergarten through second grade.  

Our mission is to accelerate children's literacy learning, 
and to develop in them a love of reading and writing. 
All children deserve to reach their intellectual potential.

Reading Power Board of Directors

Kathy McFarland, PhD, Chairman

Marra Lochiatto, MBA, Vice Chair

Kathleen Cowie, Secretary

Jim Young, MBA, Treasurer

Joanie Alley, MSEd 

Ann Bates, EdD

John Davidson 

Rob Davis, JD, MBA 

Mary Jane Hender, EdD

Todd Litzsinger

Rahul Malhotra, MBA

Melinda Mooney

Jacalyn Ramdin-Johnson, MBA

Beverly Raudabaugh, MBA

Frank Sibley

Arthur Turner

Mary Weber, MA

Rev. Dr. Gordon Butcher, DMin, Emeritus

Reading Power Program Staff

Lisa Bulzoni, MEd, Chief Executive Officer

Kristin Fine, MEd, Director of Programs

Debra Pucé, MS, Director of Development

Viri Perez, MEd, Associate Director of Programs

Kate Burke, BS, Marketing and Communications Manager

Nancy Duffy, Resource Development Manager

Susan Morris, MBA, Events Manager

Beth Zender, MA, Volunteer Coordinator

Daniela Cruz, Office Manager

Melayna Pokorny, BA, Office Assistant 

Katie Burdiak, BA, Assistant Site Coordinator

Jennifer Bruns, MST, Site Coordinator

Julie Collishaw, MA, Site Coordinator

Brooke Davis, MEd, Assistant Site Coordinator

Julie DiGuiseppe, BS, Assistant Site Coordinator

Andrea Glickman, MAEd, Site Coordinator

Marla Guziec, BS, Site Coordinator

Melissa Kumin, MEd, Site Coordinator

Aimee Lewis, MEd, Assistant Site Coordinator

Debbie Loring, MSEd, Site Coordinator

Mary Pawl, MAT, Site Coordinator

Cathy Plate, MSEd, Assistant Site Coordinator

Heather Rosenblatt, MAT, Site Coordinator

Nancy Shorris, BS, Assistant Site Coordinator

Elizabeth Soling, AA, Assistant Site Coordinator

Summer Zilisch, Assistant Site Coordinator

Victoria Zilisch, BA, Assistant Site Coordinator 



Learn more at READINGPOWERINC.ORG
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