In 71 hours, a person can ride a bicycle from Paris, France, to Brest and back or complete 48 orbits of planet earth. For Mimie Taylor, who was honored at Thursday’s Read Houston Read Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, those 71 hours were best spent helping first-graders improve their reading skills at Garcia Elementary School.

“Tuesdays and Thursdays are dedicated to Read Houston Read and my scholars,” said Taylor brightly.

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More than 200 other active Read Houston Read volunteers were honored for their dedication at a breakfast celebration at the Children’s Museum of Houston on May 14. Taylor received a special award for being the volunteer with the most hours devoted in person to the Read Houston Read program.

“We were at a party, and someone said, ‘You’re really looking good. What are you doing?’” said Taylor. “[I told the woman] I’ve been volunteering for Read Houston Read. They [the students] certainly give you a lot of energy and make you feel like life is worthwhile.”

Guest speakers at the volunteer breakfast included Julie Baker Fincke, president of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, and Lance Menster, HISD elementary curriculum and development officer. Jean Loston was also honored for the most participation online through TutorMate.

Since its inception, Read Houston Read has connected close to 300 dedicated volunteers with beginning readers in HISD. Anyone can help HISD address the current literacy crisis. To become a volunteer with Read Houston Read, please visit ReadHoustonRead.

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