Why I Champion Literacy – Bill Thompson, A Board Member’s Story

Years ago, my wife Pam worked as a literacy tutor. She would come home and tell me stories—not just about reading lessons, but about lives being transformed. Her students didn’t just learn to read. They found confidence. They began to see a future. That experience changed them… and it changed us, too.

That’s why I support RISE Augusta.

RISE steps into the lives of students who are reading below grade level and gives them the tools—not just to catch up, but to thrive. These kids aren’t just learning how to read books—they’re learning how to write their own stories of success.

We know from decades of research: early literacy is the line between a life of struggle and a life of opportunity. RISE is standing on that line, reaching out a hand.

And when we lift a child through literacy, we don’t just change their path—we change our entire community.