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Jun 25, 2006
"The books that help you most are those which make you think the most. The hardest way of learning is that of easy reading; but a great book that comes from a great thinker is a ship of thought, deep freighted with truth and beauty." --Theodore Parker
All for Books, Books for All
At 34, John Wood was a Microsoft millionaire and head of business development in China. Then he took an interesting step -- he quit. Determined to find the "second act" of his adult life, Wood began a trekking expedition in Nepal where he saw firsthand poverty and lack of opportunity. When he got home Wood cashed out $50,000 worth of shares and started Room to Read, now a $10 million organization that has opened thousands of libraries and schools for children in six countries around the world! Wood runs this remarkable non-profit like he ran his business. Overhead is kept in the single digits, donors are provided with regular success metrics and, when Wood sees a market opening, he goes for it. When he couldn't find enough local-language kids' books to stock libraries in Nepal, he hired native authors and turned out his own!
BE THE CHANGE
What "deep freighted" books have helped you in your own journey? Make a gift of one of those books to someone you think could benefit from its message. By 2020, Room to Read wants to have established 20,000 schools and libraries across the world. More about getting involved: More ...