March 2026 Newsletter

Honoring the Legacy of Reverend Gordon Butcher

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Reverend Gordon Butcher, who died peacefully on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

Reverend Butcher holds a special place in Reading Power’s history. More than two decades ago, he co-founded this incredible organization alongside Mary Jane Hender. Through his vision, conviction, and leadership, he helped lay the foundation for what has grown into an organization that has supported thousands of children and families. His belief in the power of literacy, and in the importance of investing in young learners, helped set Reading Power on its path.

Today, every tutoring session, every volunteer who walks into our classrooms, and every student who discovers the joy of reading carries forward the spirit of the work Gordon helped begin. His legacy lives on through the mission we continue each day.

We are deeply grateful for Gordon's leadership and the lasting impact he made on Reading Power and the communities we serve. Please keep his family and loved ones in your thoughts during this difficult time.

Our Students Are Flying Through Fast Words!

We’re excited to share that so many of our students have reached an incredible milestone — mastering their first 100 “fast words,” with many already reaching 200!

Fast words are high-frequency words that appear most often in the books children read, making up nearly 60% of the text they encounter. When students can recognize these words automatically, it frees up their brainpower to focus on decoding new and unfamiliar words — an essential step toward becoming confident, fluent readers.



Congratulations to our hardworking students and the dedicated tutors who support them each week. Your effort, persistence, and encouragement are opening the door to the wonderful world of reading, and we’re so proud of the progress being made.

Join Us at Play for Literacy Game Night

You're cordially invited to join us for our Second Annual Play for Literacy Game Night on Wednesday, May 6th, at Ravinia Green Country Club.

Gather your favorite players and favorite games—mahjong, bridge, Clue, hearts, or more—for an unforgettable night. Enjoy great local shopping, delicious bites, a cash bar, incredible door prizes, and endless laughter throughout the night.

2026 Play for Literacy Game Night Ace of Impact Sponsor

We’re honored to welcome back our Ace of Impact sponsor, Bernstein. Their support makes this incredible event possible and helps us reach and support even more students in our communities.

2026 Play for Literacy Game Night Heart of Giving Sponsor

We're also thrilled to introduce our new Heart of Giving sponsor, Libertyville Sunrise Rotary Club. We cannot thank them enough for their support.

If you're interested in sponsorship opportunities, we’d love to hear from you! There are many meaningful ways to get involved and make a lasting impact. Contact Katie Taylor to learn more.

One Child, Two Success Stories

Back in 2022–2023, volunteers at Oakdale School worked with a Reading Power student, helping her build the reading skills she needed to succeed. That year, her assessment scores soared, a direct result of the patience, encouragement, and dedication of her Reading Power tutors.

Fast forward to today: said student is a confident, thriving fifth grader. But the story doesn’t end there. Her mom, inspired by the tutors who helped her daughter, is now giving back as a Reading Power tutor at Lightfoot Preschool while earning her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.

It’s a beautiful reminder that the time and care you invest in a child can ripple outward, shaping futures in ways you might never see. Because of your dedication, our student's journey didn’t just stop at reading; it inspired her mom to pay it forward, proving that our impact lasts a lifetime.

Our former Reading Power student reads with her tutors in 2023.

In 2026, our former student's mom prepares to tutor her students.

Celebrating Reading Power's Women in Business

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber proudly recognized Reading Power as one of the area’s most influential Women in Business organizations. Our female-led team couldn’t be prouder of the work we do every day and the success we help our students achieve.

District 56 Leaders Visit Reading Power

On Thursday, March 12, Reading Power hosted Reading Power in Action, welcoming several District 56 leaders to observe the program and see the impact of tutoring on student literacy.

Attendees included Miriam Torres, District 56 Multilingual and Assessment Coordinator, Pete Helfers, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Dr. Luis Correa, District 56 Superintendent, along with members of the Reading Power team.

The visit provided a valuable opportunity to see Reading Power tutoring in action and to highlight the strong partnership between Reading Power and District 56. The event was a great success and a wonderful way to showcase the meaningful work being done to support our young readers.

Become a Key Sponsor Today

As a special thank you, our Key Sponsors receive a personalized key displayed on our office's Door of Opportunity, celebrating the difference they make in a child’s life.

Lisa Bulzoni, MEd, CEO 

Kate Burke, BS, Director of Operations

Kristin Fine, MEd, Director of Programs

Katie Taylor, BS, Director of Development

Viri Perez, MEd, Associate Director of Programs

Mary Therese Barkhausen, BA, Marketing and Communications Manager

Daniela Cruz, Operations Manager

Grace Drake, BA, Development Manager

Beth Zender, MEd, Community Engagement and Volunteer Manager

Olivia Shinners, BA, Community Engagement Coordinator

Jenn Bodine, BS, Site Coordinator

Katie Burdiak, BA, Assistant Site Coordinator

Karen Citow, MA, Site Coordinator

Brooke Davis, MEd, Site Coordinator

Rachael Deutsch, BA, Assistant Site Coordinator

Julie DiGuiseppe, BS, Assistant Site Coordinator

Andrea Glickman, MAEd, Site Coordinator

Marla Guziec, BS, Site Coordinator

Tracy Hovis, MEd, Site Coordinator

Joy Israel, BA, Assistant Site Coordinator

Randi Klawans, MEd, Site Coordinator 

Carole Klein-Alexander, MAT, Assistant Site Coordinator 

Aimee Lewis, MEd, Site Coordinator

Debbie Loring, MSEd, Site Coordinator

Katie Michols, MEd, Site Coordinator

Lisa Newman, MEd, Site Coordinator

Susie Olefsky, MEd, Site Coordinator 

Kristy Pfeffer, BA, Assistant Site Coordinator 

Cathy Plate, MSEd, Assistant Site Coordinator

Heather Rosenblatt, MAT, Site Coordinator

Amy Sacia, MEd, Site Coordinator

Emily Sampson, BA, Assistant Site Coordinator 

Mandy Siegel, MEd, Site Coordinator 

Elizabeth Soling, AA, Assistant Site Coordinator

Megan Vandergeest, BA, Assistant Site Coordinator

Susan Walsh, MEd, Site Coordinator

Hailey Yetman, BA, Assistant Site Coordinator