As Lead to Read KC continues to spotlight our community and corporate partners, this month we feature the infrastructure design firm HNTB. We asked Dan Ferguson and Gabe Olsen, two of our Reading Mentors at Crossroads Academy Quality Hill, to tell us about their volunteer experience and how HNTB employees are encouraged to support organizations that make a difference every day.
Ferguson and Olsen both learned about Lead to Read KC volunteer opportunities from a lunch and learn presentation and were immediately interested in signing up.
“Our investment in this generation of first through third graders is so important to Kansas City,” Dan Ferguson shared. “When children learn to read proficiently, they gain confidence, perform better in school, and are more likely to participate in their communities.”
“We want to be part of the solution when it comes to boosting those literacy rates,” said Gabe Olsen. “Lead to Read KC provides a structured, powerful program that allows volunteers to connect during their weekly 30 minutes with students. It’s a small commitment with a huge return.”
Volunteering with young readers comes with its share of heartwarming moments. Ferguson recalls the last session with one of his previous students, which included shaved ice treats and each student receiving a book. The Kona Ice truck comes to the playground so kids get very excited. “I figured my student might want to dash around with the other kids. But after our two years together, it was nice that he just wanted to sit with me and read the book I gave him. We had built up a great rapport and I could tell it meant something to him.”
Olsen shared, “There was a student who would engage more when we got a little silly as we read books and one day our Site Coordinator Carolyn Faenger took a picture of us laughing. She told me it was wonderful to see him smiling because the teacher observed that he was usually so serious in class. I like to think about how we helped add more fun to each other’s day.”
Through their partnership with Lead to Read KC, the HNTB’s Kansas City office employees also gain lasting benefits in their lives. Ferguson emphasized, “You receive as much joy from these 8 and 9-year-olds as they are getting from you. Sometimes, it’s a great reminder to not take life too seriously.” Olsen added, “It really checks all of the boxes for worthwhile outreach: easy to commit to, flexible options, and a mini break from work can do wonders for you.”
If your company is interested in hosting a lunch and learn for Lead to Read KC to present our program, email communications@leadtoreadkc.org or look at all the ways we can work together on our Let’s Join Forces page.