You Can Make All the Difference

When Pitney Bowes Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy teamed up with The Volunteer Center of United Way of Western Connecticut for the Summer Reading Partners Program Anabelle Uy (MG ’15) was there. The program is designed to help close the academic achievement gap by helping students maintain or grow their literacy skills and avoid the “summer slide.” For four consecutive Mondays, Anabelle read to kids for an hour at the Yerwood Center in Stamford, CT.  Anabelle was paired with an 8 year old girl who within the first five minutes of meeting announced she had a secret to tell. Her secret was that she “doesn’t really know how to read” because “it’s too hard.” The newly formed reading team decided that the best method would be for her to try to read and sound out the words, and when she needed help Anabelle would assist her. Anabelle learned an equally transformative lesson: “that you can provide service and make a difference, no matter how short the time. It was very rewarding to see someone who was self-conscious about reading, grow and gain a little confidence.” Oh, and they got to eat ice cream too!