About
Our Mission
Our mission is to strengthen literacy skills among under-served elementary school children and provide meals in a nurturing neighborhood environment.
Click here for a 3D tour of our newest mobile classroom. Video credits- Amy Gottholm and Cynthia Quarantello.
Our Vision
Our vision is a community in which children have the confidence and ability to succeed.
Our Staff
Sherry Shudra
Executive Director
Amber Simmons
Program and Evaluation Director
Tricia Sandridge
Volunteer Coordinator
Lisa Brown
Development Associate
Will Transou
Salesforce Administrator
Board of Directors
Tina Vrabel
President
Retired, Fidelity Investments
Greg Rideout
Vice President
Rideout Research Group
Sue Stevens
Secretary
Retired, Human Resources
Christopher Meredith
Treasurer
Director of Financial Reporting, Pyxus International, Inc.
Jan Frantz
Founder & Past President
Retired Global Vice President of Reichhold Emulsions, Durham, NC
Diana Bernas
Executive Communications Manager, Cisco Systems
Samantha Hatem
Media/Marketing Manager Empire Eats & Empire Properties
Curlee Petty
Retired Pharmacist
Kathryn Raymond
Tax Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Doug Short
Attorney, Manning, Fulton & Skinner, P.A.
Margo Stutesman
Senior Marketing Manager, SAS
Leressa Suber
Evaluation & Talent Development Specialist, NC State University
Benjamin A. Swaney
Financial Advisor, Wells Fargo Advisors
Mayra Szeto
WCPSS Human Resources
Nancy Vodicka
Marketing Executive ArchiveSocial
Kristin Walker
Governor's Deputy Budget Director, State of North Carolina
Wilson Zhang
KPMG LLP
Advisory Council
Leslie Ann Jackson
Advisory Council
Vice President of Community Investment and Engagement for the North Carolina Community Foundation
Marty Clayton
District Manager at Duke Energy
Bobbie Furr
Retired Accountant Partner
Jan Frantz
Founder of Read and Feed
George Jordan
Developer and owner of George H. Jordan III Development Co.
Cecile Noel
Community Leader
James Stem
Retired Railroad Safety Officer
Calvin Stevens
Director of Business Development & Diversity, Balfour Beatty Construction
Suzanne Stroud
Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
The Story of Read and Feed
Several years ago, Jan Frantz was volunteering as a tutor at Northwoods Elementary when she realized that not every child has the resources necessary to improve their reading and writing skills. In October of 2007, after months of research, Frantz quit her corporate job in order to help children in Wake County. Frantz purchased an RV and converted it into a mobile classroom that could travel to the neighborhoods of children in need. Frantz loaded the mobile classroom with books that she had been collecting in her attic. Then she prepared sloppy joes to serve the children for supper. Not sure what to expect, Frantz arrived at Penny Road Elementary in Cary to offer the first Read and Feed program. Sure enough, seven eager children came aboard the mobile classroom ready to read and learn.
425+ active volunteers provide 7,700 hours of tutoring
The program has expanded to serve more than 600 children each year. With three mobile classrooms and additional sites in Communities in Schools, Boys and Girls Clubs and area churches, we now serve 24 program sites in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Rolesville, Knightdale and Zebulon. Our more than 500 active volunteers provide 7,700 hours of tutoring, drive our mobile classrooms, deliver food and supplies, sort and distribute the 33,000+ books we give to children annually, and provide crucial administrative services.
