Our Story, Your Chapter

Every great story begins with a bold opening line. Twenty-five years ago, brimming with hope and ambition, three visionary leaders ignited a spark that would continue to grow and transform lives through education. Chapter One of Room to Read's story honors the unwavering passion and foresight of our founders.

John Wood, Erin Ganju and Dinesh Shrestha dared to dream of a world where every child, regardless of circumstance, could unlock their potential. Through tireless dedication, they laid the foundation one book, student and community at a time.

As we celebrate 25 years, we honor their legacy of collaboration, action, and scale—the cornerstone of this organization which is now a leader in the literacy and gender equality movements and has benefited more than 50 million children. Their efforts continue to inspire the next generation of learners and leaders.

Education is the soundest investment of financial capital, and Room to Read has delivered substantial returns for our friends in the finance industry. Through strategic investments, innovative partnerships, and a shared commitment to equity, big banks and investment firms have funded programs and countless opportunities for young learners worldwide. Their impact extends far beyond balance sheets—they’ve paid dividends in lives changed and chosen futures realized.

PIMCO
National Bank of Bahrain
UBS
St James Place
Goldman Sachs (Gives)
Warburg Pincus
BlackRock
HPS
Positive Real Estate
Morgan Stanley
BNP Paribas
Bain Capital
Bloomberg
Citi
Sattar Foundation?
Hinze Chow?
L&L Holding Company
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
S&P Global
CVC Capital Partners
London Stock Exchange Group
Dodge & Cox
Wells Fargo
FactSet
DPL?
Barclays?
Bank of America Continnum 
Select Equity Group Foundation

Behind every milestone and achievement in our 25-year journey stands a dedicated group of leaders who have guided us with wisdom, passion, and purpose. Our constellation of board members in nine geographies demonstrate unwavering commitment and challenge us to dream big.

These bridge builders provide governance and oversight while serving as tireless advocates for our mission. They connect across geographic borders and timezones in the name of education.

Australia

Kirsten Zaki
Bassam Aflak
Rita Azar
Mike Cannon-Brookes 
Annie Cannon-Brookes 
Jane Clifford 
Andrew Clifford
Harriet Fesq
Toby Norton-Smith
Brett Godfrey 
Zahra Godfrey
Charles Gorman (Chair)
Alison Gorman
Tash Keuneman 
Wendell Keuneman

ASEAN

Sunita Rajan
James Arnett
Krista Cruz Lucero
Mark Bedingham 
Joris Dierckx 
Alan Miyasaki 
Christine Miyasaki
Helman Sitohang (Chair)
Ria Sitohang
Justin Teo 
Kari Teo
Agnes Zameczkowski 
Tony Zameczkowski
Catherine Zemans
David Zemans 

APAC

Laura Harilela 
Aron Harilela
Frank Wong
Lauren Houghton
James Houghton (Co-chair)
John Lindfors 
Camilla Lindfors
Angela Mackay 
Dieter Turowski
Laura Howard (Co-chair)
Andy Wong
Angel Ng

Japan

Ben Ferguson
Asami Ferguson
Eric Golden
Ayako Golden
Maya Horii
Joel Pulliam
Yuri Masanao
Tomoya Masanao (Chair)
Mio Takaoka 
Fred Towfigh 
Hidehiro Imatsu

India

Gaurav Dalmia 
Mickey Doshi
Salil Gupte 
Vishal Mahadevia (Vice Chair) 
Khozem Merchant 
Ravi C. Raheja
Sumati Raheja (Chair)
Tanvi Jindal Shete 
Anshu Prakash

Middle East

Ahmed El-Maghraby
Malak Alireza
Mahdi Amjad 
Shaima Amjad 
Farah Foustok 
Yusuf Alireza (Chair)
Dina Khreino
Malick Badjie
Nadia Logab
Adel Al Falasi
Yogesh Kale
Hinal Kale

Switzerland

Jurgen Bauer (Chair) 
Noelle Aigrain-Kaegi 
Florian Aigrain
Katrin Koch  
Daniel Epstein
Katie Kurz 
Martin Rinck 
Christine Rinck
Mindy Silverstein 
Adam Silverstein
Paul Agbaje
Michelle Agbaje
Christoph von Reiche

UK

Carmen Alonso
Matthew Strassberg
Christopher Bake 
Cynthia Bake
Vinni Bhandari 
Richard Chalmers 
Sabine Chalmers
Conor Davis 
Joanna Davis
Craig Dawson 
Raquel Dawson
Marisa Drew 
Jerry del Missier 
Elio Leoni Sceti (Chair) 
Maria Leoni Sceti
Bjorn Nilsson 
John Ridding 
Lizzie Ridding
Pete Rosenbauer 
Erica Wax 
Andrew Balls
Dagny Yousuf 
Ryad Yousuf
Teresa Teague

North America

Samantha Barry 
Susan Breyer 
Mary Byron 
Ernest Chow
Gwen Hinze
Sarah Eisen
Matthew Levine
Rami Elghandour 
Mana Elghandour
Erin Ganju 
Jitendra Ganju
Caryn Freiberger 
Peter T. Grauer 
Lydie Hudson 
Tami Lippit
Carl Huttenlocher
Sonny Kalsi (Chair) 
Ryan Korinke
Kimberley Stafford
Angel Mehta 
Kim Anstatt Morton 
Stasia Obremskey 
Dusty Philip 
Jesse Purewal 
Mythili Sankaran
Shekkar Ayyar
Vicky Tsai 
Hilary Valentine 
Frank van Veenendaal 
Leslie van Veenendaal
Priya Venkatesh 
Susan Wojcicki* & Dennis Troper 
Amy Wong 
Vikas Keswani
Shaziya Keswani
Elizabeth (EB) Kapnick

Room to Read's road has seen countless travelers, even if their paths diverged along the way. We honor all past donors - individuals and organizations who believe in our mission and contributed to our successes. Their generosity remains woven into the fabric of our story. 

As we reflect and reconnect, we celebrate all those who chose Room to Read as a channel for social impact. We extend our gratitude and know our paths will continue to cross in pursuit of world change.

Innovation and progress thrive at the crossroads of technology and education. Tech companies and visionaries have revolutionized the way Room to Read supports learners over the past 25 years.

From groundbreaking digital tools to game-changing partnerships, these trailblazers have bridged the gap between possibility and reality. Their contributions have expanded access to education, fueled creativity, and equipped students with the skills need to succeed in a rapidly evolving world.

We honor these forward-thinking partners whose innovations continue to light the way toward a future where technology unlocks boundless potential for all.

From our earliest days, volunteers have been the heart of our efforts. Room to Read’s worldwide network of passionate volunteers now spans 32 countries and 135 cities, from London and Chicago to Tokyo and Dubai. These leaders unite in service and echo our brand story to all corners of the globe. Whether they build awareness for our mission, organize a fundraising campaign, host a booth at a local event, or partner with local schools to conduct read-a-thons or workshops, our volunteers are educating and inspiring action in their local communities.

Room to Read celebrity and influencer supporters turn their star power into a force for good. They’ve visited classrooms, championed campaigns, and sparked conversations that put education at the center of the global stage.

Their message is clear: every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, and their star power has illuminated that message in ways only they can. We celebrate all the bold, brilliant, and generous celebrities who’ve helped us transform lives and inspire brighter futures.

Education transcends time and lifetimes, shaping the future for generations to come. Our legacy donors are extraordinary individuals that have left an indelible mark on Room to Read through their estates and gifts in their wills.

Their visionary generosity ensures that our mission will continue to inspire, educate, and transform lives long into the future. We celebrate these remarkable supporters, whose foresight and commitment have created a legacy of opportunity, hope, and progress for generations to come.

The future of social change is in the hands of the passionate, dynamic young leaders who are driving movements for justice, equity, and a better world. 

These millennial and Gen Z changemakers are not just shaping conversations—they are transforming communities, amplifying voices, and advocating for the next generation of leaders. With a deep commitment to fairness and opportunity, they inspire action, build awareness, and ignite progress across the globe.

We honor these courageous voices, whose activism and passion are rewriting the future.

Transformative change requires vision, collaboration, and scale. We celebrate the program partners, funders and investors whose extraordinary support has accelerated and expanded our programs to reach new geographies and impact countless students.

Through their investment in ambitious projects and innovative partnerships, these champions have amplified our mission, ensuring that opportunities for education extend further than ever imagined. Their belief in the power of collaboration has enabled us to create systemic solutions and touch the lives of students and communities on an unprecedented scale.

Generosity takes many forms, and some of the most meaningful contributions go beyond monetary support. Our gifts-in-kind supporters have enriched our operations and programs.

From providing essential resources like books and supplies to offering expertise in strategic planning and marketing, these supporters have played a vital role in advancing our mission. Their creative contributions have expanded our reach, strengthened our programs, and enhanced the experiences of those we serve.

Stories have the power to inspire movements. The visionary creators and funders behind Room to Read's multimedia project "She Creates Change" brought award-winning storytelling to life, including our first feature film, amplifying the voices of courageous young women transforming their communities.

Through their dedication and investment, these champions helped create a narrative that transcends borders, sparking conversations about the barriers that girls face to their education. The film has become a catalyst for change, inspiring audiences to take action and support the critical work of Room to Read.

Our cause-marketing partners integrate purpose into their products, giving their consumers the power to create change through a single purchase. Their brand commitment goes beyond collaboration—they actively foster a world where business is a force for good.

These bold philanthropists understand the power of catalytic funding and have placed their trust in Room to Read to deploy transformational capital where it is needed most. They enable Room to Read to innovate, expand, and respond to the evolving needs of communities. Their generosity has created lasting change, from scaling programs to pioneering new initiatives that transform lives.

Every great expansion begins with explorers—those who see potential where others see uncertainty. These visionary funders are Room to Read's earliest supporters and seed investors in new geographies,  embracing the challenge of uncharted territory.  Their bold commitment not only helped us plant roots in new regions but also inspired others to join the journey.

At the heart of every impactful initiative are the trusted local experts who bring vision to life. Our implementing partners are organizations that have chosen to work alongside Room to Read to deliver our programs with unmatched dedication, quality and expertise.

These partners are more than collaborators; they are the lifeblood of our mission, leveraging their deep local knowledge and connections to ensure our programs meet the unique needs of each community. Together, we have built solutions that are sustainable, impactful, and transformative.

We celebrate these invaluable allies whose trust and expertise make Room to Read a partner of choice, ensuring that education and opportunity reach those who need them most.

True impact is driven by those who know their communities best. Our extraordinary  country and regional directors are leaders whose deep local knowledge and unwavering dedication guide our mission in every corner of the world.

They embody the spirit of "simultaneously local, regional and global" tailoring solutions to meet unique local needs while contributing to a shared global purpose. Their leadership bridges cultures, inspires innovation, and ensures sustainable progress for the communities they serve.

At the heart of every child’s success is a dedicated educator who believes in their potential and inspires their self-worth. We honor the teachers, librarians, educators, and social mobilizers who work directly with students, supporting them to learn, grow, and thrive.

These local champions bring our mission to life in classrooms, libraries, and communities, adapting programming to fit the unique needs of their students. With their dedication and expertise, they inspire curiosity, foster resilience, and create opportunities that ripple far beyond the classroom.

Transformative change requires collaboration at the highest levels, and our government partners have embraced our programs and shared our vision for sustainable, systemic change.

As trusted partners, these leaders have integrated aspects of our initiatives into national strategies, amplifying our reach and embedding our impact into lasting frameworks. Their belief in our work affirms our position as a partner of choice for innovative, scalable solutions in education and social progress.

The true measure of change is seen in the students on our programs who pay it forward. From becoming social mobilizers and educators to pursuing careers as doctors, nurses, and community leaders, these alumni embody the power of learning to create a ripple effect of positive change. Many have returned as Room to Read staff or advocates, inspiring future generations and expanding the reach of our mission. Their journeys reflect the enduring power of education to uplift and drive lasting progress.

The power of storytelling shapes minds and opens hearts. Room to Read authors, illustrators, and publishers have created thousands of locally relevant, culturally rich books and materials that reflect a child's world and potential.These talented creators understand the importance of representing diverse voices and perspectives, producing educational resources that resonate deeply with students and communities. Their work brings stories to life, fostering a love for reading while strengthening cultural identity.

Awards and recognition are reflections of the trust and impact Room to Read has built over the years. Governing entities, organizers, and jury bodies of the prestigious awards and prizes we’ve been honored to receive have chosen to highlight our work, acknowledging the transformative contributions we’ve made in education and social impact. Being recognized as a partner of choice is a testament to the strength of our mission and the exceptional outcomes we achieve together.

True sustainability comes from those who give not just once, but with ongoing dedication. Our incredible monthly donors—individuals whose commitment ensures that our work continues to thrive-- provide the foundation of our long-term impact, offering consistent funding that allows us to plan for the future and respond to immediate needs. Their enduring belief in our mission strengthens our ability to create meaningful, lasting change.

Room to Read events are memorable gatherings of like-minded changemakers. These celebrations are possible through the support of champions who help us create unforgettable experiences while raising essential funds for our mission. Whether providing unique auction items, orchestrating flawless performances, or volunteering their time, they play a vital role in ensuring the success of our galas.

Stories stay with us because of the people who bring them to life. Room to Read's dedicated staff are the heartbeat of our mission. Our current and alumni staff around the world put our values in action and are a testament to how education ripples outward to change the world. Without them, none of what we do would be possible. Together, we will write the next chapter.