Welcome! We’re so glad you’re joining us for our 12th Annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration!
Here you will find your digital program, information about this year’s award recipients, swag, and more!
Presidential Volunteer Service Awards
In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action as well.
Words Alive is proud to recognize our inaugural class of Presidential Volunteer Service Recipients, who together contributed nearly 950 hours of service in 2020.
Learn more about the recipients and check out the recording of the ceremony below!
2021 Volunteer Award Recipients
We encourage you to engage with the national conversation about this book by hearing what others have to say about Homeland Elegies. We have collected a few reviews of the book and interviews with Ayad Akhtar for you here.
Crafter of the Year: Kerry Zisook
“I volunteer for Words Alive because I understand the important role books play in the development of a child. Reading is an excellent way to access the world around you as well as escape into other worlds. It opens our minds and hearts.”
Family Literacy Program Volunteer of the Year: Peggy Ratner
“Peggy Quote Here”
Read Aloud Volunteer of the Year: Mr. Jim
Teen Services Volunteer of the Year: Bijan Nowroozian
“Reading allows us to broaden the imagination, take us to other worlds, and deepen our sense of shared experiences, trials, and joy. If I can be a spark that generates curiosity in books and encourages reading habits at home, then our youngest cohorts can begin the journey to successful learning and discovery of their own limitless potential.”
Westreich Volunteer of the Year: Joanmarie Banez
“I volunteer for Words Alive because I believe in the value of seeing the light in one another and supporting each other in our community and educational endeavors. As a literature lover, student, and teacher, I enjoy working with others through the power of language and literacy!”
Youth Volunteer of the Year: Shanaya Malik
“I volunteer for Words Alive because of the friendly and educational staff and community here that allow me to form close relationships with others. I am able to spend time participating in activities that interest me while simultaneously learning professional skills and inspiring others to love reading and learning! ”
“Helping others has always been joyous and fulfilling to me. After graduating from College, I wanted to give back in a similar way that educators and librarians helped me while growing up in a low income, high crime community. I knew what I wanted to do, and after joining Words Alive, I was able to fulfill my goals and more.
At Words Alive, I’ve been able to help local youth learn about the wonders of literature, art, and the power they have to change the world for the better. I’ve also been able to mentor and guide recipients of the Words Alive Westreich Scholarship Program so that they have all the tools and knowledge needed to navigate College life.”
Engagement Volunteer of the Year: Meher Ghandi
“Words Alive is an organization that works hard to contribute towards educational development and this cause speaks to me on a personal level. Moreover, the organization is immensely welcoming of volunteers and their efforts. For me, each day spent volunteering for this organization is a day that is well-spent!”
Social Media Squad Volunteer of the Year: Kristina Cox
“I love volunteering for Words Alive because of their tireless commitment to help our community improve and grow one of the most important skills a person can have - reading. It never ceases to amaze me how this organization goes above and beyond by working with families to help ensure their young readers have a substantial learning environment at home. I also admire how quickly and effectively Words Alive adapted to the new challenges brought on by the pandemic.”
Content Volunteer of the Year: Curriculum Co-Lead - Vivian Lin
“I found Words Alive when I was looking for online volunteer opportunities during COVID. I am very glad that I found Words Alive because I just love the message the organization is spreading across local communities as well as how passionate everyone on the team is! Overall, volunteering with Words Alive has been a very rewarding and enriching experience!”
Content Volunteer of the Year: Curriculum Co-Lead - Marcus Weber
“I volunteer with words alive as a way of passing on the joy of reading and the advantages of literacy with those who may not have been gifted these things from birth.”
Corporate Partner of the Year: Ernst & Young
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Rookie of the Year: Gayle Early
“When I was little, books saved me. When I was big, books saved me! A good book is a magic carpet ride that can woosh you away to new places and introduce you to interesting characters, all in the theater of your own heart and mind. I want readers to be able to travel anywhere they wish to explore, enjoy learning, and reap the lifetime benefits from the magic and wisdom of reading good stories.”
Page Turner of the Year: Noshin Ahktar
“For me, volunteering for WordsAlive! started off as simply a means to earn hours for the #CaliforniansForAll Summer of Service program but soon became an enjoyable pastime. WordsAlive! allowed me to combine the love I have always had for books and reading with my passion to help others, and I hope I continue to use this outlet for years to come.”
Content Volunteer of the Year: Curriculum Co-Lead - Cheryl Converse-Rath
“I volunteer for Words Alive because I love reading and writing, and getting to know people who love it as much as I do. As a former teacher, I want to make things easy for teachers and help kids get all they can out of books.”
Content Volunteer of the Year: Curriculum Co-Lead - Nanditha Krishnan
“I volunteer with Words Alive because I really enjoyed reading as a kid and I was really interested in the idea of an organization that helped kids of all ages love reading too. I ended up joining the curriculum team when I learned that Words Alive was making guides for all ages and genres of novels. I really love the idea that these guides have questions about novels that I would have loved to read for fun, that create discussion on important topics in out society. As a high schooler not a lot of the people I meet love reading for fun outside of standard school curriculum, so I love that Words Alive goes above and beyond to make novels a wonderful experience!”
Service Partner of the Year: Triton Student Engineers
“I volunteer for Words Alive because I am continually impressed by the breadth of their programs and the creativity of their team. I look forward to our meetings every week because their reactions and feedback on our project inspire me and give me hope that we can use technology to promote social good.”
Rookie of the Year: Nick Giordano
“I volunteer for Words Alive because I feel strongly about the organization’s mission. I think the world becomes a better place when our youth can more readily access the gift of reading. The people at Words Alive are committed and caring people who work to give children that gift, so I’m proud to help them in any small way I can. ”
Volunteer of the Year: Sandy Connolly
“Why do I volunteer at Words Alive? Because making connections with children while reading always lifts my spirits and feeds my soul! The impact of reading and listening to great stories improves memory and increases our imagination. It allows us to explore new topics, increase awareness, and helps us to understand others. Last but not least, I volunteer at Words Alive because it inspires readers and writers to go on new adventures anywhere, anytime!”
Blurby Here
Who: Ayad Akhtar, Pulitzer Prize-winner and author of Homeland Elegies in conversation with Dr. Seth Lerer, Distinguished Professor of Literature, UC-San Diego about Homeland Elegies
When: Available at your leisure. Available until December 31, 2020.
Time: 50 minutes
Access: Password was emailed to ticket holders and is on a postcard in the package you received with your novel. Please contact [email protected] for assistance.
Please note the capitalization of the password when entering it.
Thank You Andrea!
Bid on once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to bring acclaimed and engaging authors on virtual visits to all the places that readers gather in your life!
Shop a remarkable collection of restaurants and shops believing in the power of reading and donating proceeds to support Words Alive.
Board Acknowledgement
To wrap up our month-long exploration of Homeland Elegies, we're sharing an exclusive essay by the author himself. Read it here!
Thank you to our Champions for Youth Fundraisers:
Laura Kohn
Melinda Wynar
Nick Giordano
Orville Brown
Rachael Orose
Rick Seidenwurm
Robyn Grand
Sandra Korwek
Sara Mortensen
William Carelton
Andrea MacDonald
Christina Meeker
Danny Cung
Elise Goldwasser
Gloria Pan
Jane Hopkins
Karen Malin
Karen Silberman
Kim Harrison
Kristina Cox
Thank you + Swag HERE
Connect with Event Attendees
Special Attendees
We are honored to welcome special guests to this year’s celebration.
Click HERE to view our Special Attendees to see who else is joining the celebration this year!
Tours of Novel Ideas
Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, just for event attendees, of Novel Ideas, our virtual gallery of art and writing of more than 400 students!
Special Thanks
This event is possible thanks to our Authors Circle sponsor:
And our community supporters:
With technical assistance and thought leadership from:
A very special thank you to the many volunteers and supporters who have graciously given their time and talent in support of this event. You can view the list of these remarkable volunteers here.
Your investment in Words Alive makes a difference, perhaps now more than ever, in the lives of children, teens, and families. Thank you for your support!