BY BRANDON CONDA, WORDS ALIVE STORYTELLING INTERN
Words Alive proudly acknowledges Steve and Gabrielle Heide as recipients of Words Alive’s 2025 Engagement Volunteers of the Year award! Through their friendly nature and professional skills, they have demonstrated a strong dedication to “Where the Wild Books Are” service days, which has made this energetic pair essential to Words Alive.
Steve and Gabrielle began their journey with Words Alive in early 2024 following their retirement and relocation from Los Angeles to San Diego. While looking for meaningful ways to contribute to their new community, Gabrielle found Words Alive through HandsOn San Diego. The couple started participating in Wild Books events and immediately became captivated.
“We were looking for meaningful opportunities to volunteer our time and expertise in the area,” Steve and Gabrielle shared. “We first started volunteering at Wild Books events in early 2024.”
Gabrielle’s career as a credentialed public school art educator and Steve’s experience as a CPA and finance officer in both local government and nonprofits resulted in skill sets that matched perfectly with Words Alive’s mission. Their involvement quickly deepened. Gabrielle started creating accompanying art projects for Words Alive’s curriculum, and Steve became a member of Words Alive’s finance and audit committees.
“We’ve also participated in a few special events, which has been great too,” Steve and Gabrielle said. “It’s been nice to feel like we’re ‘boots on the ground’ volunteers assisting with Wild Books, but also using our professional backgrounds to support the organization in other ways.”
A Meaningful Commitment
What has kept Steve and Gabrielle so engaged?
“When we volunteer with Words Alive, whether with Wild Books or in some other way, we say, ‘we’re going to work,’” Steve and Gabrielle said. “We approach each opportunity as a serious (but fun) commitment. There’s a job to be done, and we like to think that our small volunteer part in Words Alive’s mission is making an impact—and that’s very rewarding.”
They also credit the incredible community of staff, board members, and fellow volunteers:
“The people we’ve met through Words Alive inspire us with their collective commitment to the mission. Being made to feel welcomed and appreciated by the Words Alive ‘family’ is rewarding in itself.”
Memorable Moments
After six months of volunteering, Steve and Gabrielle were invited to support a special corporate donation event at the San Diego Convention Center during a financial planners’ conference—an unexpected and memorable experience.
“The event took place on an outside patio, and Jason Mraz was doing an afternoon sound check for a concert at the nearby Rady Shell,” they laughed. “It felt like we had our own private concert at a Words Alive event!”
Why Literacy Matters
“So many of the families served by Words Alive wouldn’t have access to reading materials otherwise,” they explained. “Sometimes we’re packing as many as six titles per household, each with a related craft project. That has to be impacting these families in very positive and profound ways.”
Steve and Gabrielle are passionate about literacy because they know what’s at stake.
“When you’re young, if you don’t learn to read, you won’t be able to read to learn later in life. If you struggle with literacy, it can lead to lifelong struggles—even with things like applying for jobs or housing,” they said. “We hope our efforts can make some small difference in improving literacy for the youth in our community.”
Books & Recommendations
Currently, Steve is reading The Blue Zones by Dan Buettner, while Gabrielle is diving into Unwinding Anxiety by Judson Brewer. Both are lifelong learners and avid readers who understand the joy and empowerment that comes from a good book.
Thank you, Steve and Gabrielle, for your dedication, your energy, and the many ways you bring Words Alive’s mission to life! Your impact continues to inspire us all.