Room to Read

Room to Read PO Box 29127 San Francisco, California 94129 United States 415 561 3331 http://www.roomtoread.org

Mission

Room to Read’s mission is to provide under-privileged children with an opportunity to gain the lifelong gift of education. It was founded on the belief that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and taking control of one's own life.

Programs

Rather than apply a short-term solution, Room to Read seeks to intervene early in a child's life and provide ongoing educational opportunities in their communities. We have developed a successful three-pronged approach to tackling the problem of education by: - Partnering with communities to build schools; - Enhancing educational facilities within schools, including establishing libraries, computers labs and language training centers; - Providing scholarships for underprivileged young girls.

Funded Projects on GlobalGiving

Library program for children in Cambodia	Scholarship Program for Girls in Nepal	Sri Lanka School Construction Project	Library program for children in Cambodia
Scholarship Program for Girls in Nepal	Village Partnership to construct schools - Vietnam	Computer Lab Program for Children in Vietnam	Establishing Language Labs in Vietnam

Personnel Overview

John Wood - Founder and Chairman
John Wood, Founder and Chairman of Room to Read, started the organization after witnessing poor educational resources during a trek in Nepal. He gave up his executive position with Microsoft in order to provide children with education. John holds an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Northwestern University. He has been awarded the Draper Richards Fellowship.

Erin Keown - Chief Operating Officer
As Chief Operating Officer, Erin oversees all in-country programs. Erin joined the organization in 2001 after a successful international business career. She spent two years living in Vietnam and developed a lifelong passion and interest for development in Asia. Erin holds an M.A. in International Relations from the School of Advanced International Studies of The Johns Hopkins University.

Nguyen Hoai Nam and Hoang Tho Moang Lien - Program Directors, Vietnam
Mr. Nam and Ms. Lien are in charge of day-to-day operations of Room to Read, Vietnam with local offices in Ho Chi Minh City. They are Vietnamese nationals with a solid understanding of the Vietnamese culture and the social and educational challenges facing their country. They have strong experience in government relations and management of community service projects.

Personnel Statistics

Erin Keown,
Chief Operating Officer
Founded in 1998
Employees: 4
Volunteers: 150