Philanthropy Projects
Lee Fairbend, Philanthropy Chair
Hello everyone,
Your WNBA board has decided to add a philanthropy chairperson, and I’m it!
I’m planning to find volunteer opportunities with the nonprofit organizations in Nashville who work with our favorite things, books and literacy. Thanks to our program chair, Erin Cox, we heard all about the Nashville Adult Literacy Council at the holiday dinner. They are always looking for volunteer tutors to help adults learn to read or improve their reading skills. You can find out more at Nashville Adult Literacy Council (nashvilleliteracy.org)
I plan to send information about new opportunities as they arise. This time it’s a group that we have volunteered with for some time. Some of our members are regular volunteers. The mission of Book’em, at Home - Book 'em (bookem-kids.org), is “to create a more literate Nashville and ignite children’s passion for reading through book ownership and enthusiastic volunteers”. If you look at the website you will see that there are many chances to be of help. We were recently focused on Read Me Day. There were 2 this year.
- February 24 at Joelton Elementary School
- March 3 at Shayne Elementary School
What is Read Me Day?
Read Me Day is an annual celebration of literacy hosted at Title I elementary schools to highlight the importance of books and reading, create a memorable literacy experience for children, and provide community-wide support for our local schools and students. Read Me Day events are organized in partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools.
History: Read Me Day was started in 1986 by Frankie DeWees, a teacher at East Hickman Elementary School in Lyles, Tennessee, to celebrate the importance of reading. The event was called “Read Me Day” because students, teachers, and visiting readers were invited to wear a shirt, cap, or pin with a message on it so the children could “read the reader.” Book’em has celebrated Read Me Day since 1990, growing the event from a single day into four celebrations hosted at different schools each year.
If you missed Read Me Day, you can still volunteer with Book'em. For more information, email books@bookem-kids.org or go to Volunteer - Book 'em (bookem-kids.org)
The next group we will highlight is the PENCIL Foundation. Be on the lookout for more information.
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From a NALC volunteer
I’m Kayla Stierwalt, virtual English teacher, writer, and WNBA Nashville book discussion chair. My education experience and Nashville community have grown as I’ve joined the Nashville Adult Literacy Council (NALC), a local nonprofit that promotes literacy for adult learners. Volunteering as an ESL tutor at NALC has been a great way for me to deepen my connection with the Nashville literacy community and, more importantly, with my student.
NALC pairs each tutor with one student for a period of at least three months. Our twice weekly virtual sessions have given us a place not only to strengthen language skills and meet the student’s goals through the provided lessons and materials but also develop rapport—we’ve bonded over our shared fondness for Taylor Swift and the Backstreet Boys. NALC provides training and continued support through tutor-mentor check-ins and educational opportunities like speaker events. Building trust so the student feels comfortable asking questions and sharing experiences means a lot to me, and I love seeing her confidence grow. Tutoring gives me an opportunity to work with adult students and give back to the city that shares so many literary joys with me.
The NALC website includes information about upcoming tutor training as well as other resources. Visit to volunteer or donate to Nashville literacy. Nashville Adult Literacy Council (nashvilleliteracy.org)
NALC pairs each tutor with one student for a period of at least three months. Our twice weekly virtual sessions have given us a place not only to strengthen language skills and meet the student’s goals through the provided lessons and materials but also develop rapport—we’ve bonded over our shared fondness for Taylor Swift and the Backstreet Boys. NALC provides training and continued support through tutor-mentor check-ins and educational opportunities like speaker events. Building trust so the student feels comfortable asking questions and sharing experiences means a lot to me, and I love seeing her confidence grow. Tutoring gives me an opportunity to work with adult students and give back to the city that shares so many literary joys with me.
The NALC website includes information about upcoming tutor training as well as other resources. Visit to volunteer or donate to Nashville literacy. Nashville Adult Literacy Council (nashvilleliteracy.org)
Kayla recently had a farewell lunch with the student she tutored through NALC. Then she attended their Literacy Matters virtual breakfast held on May 25.
Read Me Day at Shayne Elementary
by Tori Ross
It's always fulfilling to support the important work being done by other noteworthy Nashville non-profits with shared visions. Nancy Dickinson and I volunteered for Book'em Read Me Day at Shayne Elementary School on Friday, March 3rd. It was an honor to be among such a large, enthusiastic group of volunteer readers and the eager listeners in our assigned classrooms. I thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with many other volunteers - friends who all share the love of reading! Well done, Book'em!
It's always fulfilling to support the important work being done by other noteworthy Nashville non-profits with shared visions. Nancy Dickinson and I volunteered for Book'em Read Me Day at Shayne Elementary School on Friday, March 3rd. It was an honor to be among such a large, enthusiastic group of volunteer readers and the eager listeners in our assigned classrooms. I thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with many other volunteers - friends who all share the love of reading! Well done, Book'em!