Volunteers are critical to to brining words alive for children, teens, and families we serve. Our volunteers bring their own lived experiences to our work, supporting the culture of appreciation and inclusion we foster. We are proud to celebrate one of those volunteers, James McIlhon, as he accepts the award for Volunteer of the Year from the North County Philanthropy Council.

You may recognize “Mr. Jim” from our Story Station videos on Facebook Live, where his videos have been viewed more than a quarter-of-a-million times. Before taking to the digital airwaves, Mr. Jim supported our Read Aloud Program as a classroom reader, reading to preschoolers since 2018. When we asked teachers to describe Mr. Jim’s Read Aloud sessions in one word, they said “Engaged, awesome, fantastic, enthusiastic.”

When asked about why he volunteers for Words Alive, Mr. Jim said, “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.”

To support the growth of Words Alive, we have activated 1,600+ volunteers, locally and globally, to invest their time, talent, and expertise in support of San Diego’s youth. Volunteers participate in trainings to help them think, respond, and engage in ways that honor diverse voices and the lived experiences of families. Uniquely, we are seeing that connections through text are building bridges of understanding between Words Alive volunteers and the families we serve.

Considering volunteering with Words Alive today! Learn more about volunteer opportunities at our website: Become A Volunteer — Words Alive.

Congratulations Mr. Jim – and thank you for bringing words alive for children and families in our community and around the country!