When I entered elementary school in 1976, I didn't realize I had a speech impediment or that I was way behind on my reading skills.  A couple of times a week over the next 3 years I would have hour long reading sessions with teacher's aids with a focus on reading skills and pronunciation.  I was terrified to be called on to read in class because my s's sounded like th's, my r's sounded like w's and for a chubby redheaded kid with a speech impediment in the late 1970's, this was a tough way to start school.  With all of the reading and help from the teacher's aids, which today I would call mentors, I was able to understand and improve my pronunciation, but it was the reading and the time that I spent with people who cared about me and were there to help that increased my confidence and made me a better reader.  A couple of years later in middle school, I volunteered and was chosen to walk to the elementary school once a week and read a book to an elementary school class.  I was so proud to have had that opportunity but I don't believe it would have been possible without the help of my mentors back in elementary school.  My love of reading continues but it goes deeper than that.  I think today more than ever the children in our communities need organizations like EverybodyWins!VT.  Having a mentor read with a child for 1 hour a week during lunch might not seem like a lot, but I can tell you from my own experience as an EverybodyWins!VT mentor and my time in elementary school that it can make all of the difference.