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Giving in Honor of My High School Teacher Who Taught Me to Love Reading

Categories: Giving, Volunteerism

Guest blog by Peter Appel

Professor of Law at the University of Georgia, Learning Ally Volunteer

Peter in a SuitFor the last year, I have been volunteering for Learning Ally, a nonprofit that records books for the blind and dyslexic and other folks who have problems reading.
My volunteer work consists mostly of reading books, everything from children's books, teen lit, and college-level textbooks. It's been challenging and rewarding.
It occurred to me that one of the reasons that I love reading so much is because of two people: Terry O'Connor and Janice Watson, two of my high school teachers and who were best friends and a married couple. Sadly, Terry died of cancer in 2015.

 

I’m trying to raise money for a worthy cause in memory of my high school English teacher, Terry.

 

This mission has the blessing of his widow, Janice Watson. We set out to raise $1,000 to dedicate a book that I read to his memory. All of the Learning Ally readers across the country will hear all about Terry and how he motivated me to read.

Janice has selected A Man Called Ove, and I’ve already started recording it.

To date, I've raised over $2,700 in Terry's honor enabling me to add 3 new books to Learning Ally's library of over 80,000 audiobooks. Thanks for you, Terry and Janice, for making a difference in my life and now making the difference in the lives of over 10 million students who struggle to read the printed word.

Learning Ally LogoDonate to Peter's fundraiser. Or consider creating your own! If you want to honor someone you love by supporting student success please make a gift in their honor or create a fundraising page and ask your family and friends to donate.