I cast my vote in memory of Mary O'Leary O'Sullivan, my grandmother. She died in 1935 so I never knew her, but the stories about her are family legend. Born in 1876 in County Kerry, Ireland, she came to New York City in the late 1890s, where she met and married my grandfather, Florence O’Sullivan, also a native of County Kerry. He became a New York City fireman, and they lived on the upper east side of Manhattan. They had 10 children, but only five lived to adulthood.

My grandmother organized other Irish immigrant women to march for voting rights in New York City in the early 1900s. My father, who was born in 1908, often recalled marching with his mother for “the vote.” He recounted long days of marching and listening to speeches. He would be holding onto his mother with one hand while carrying a sign with the other. His mother would encourage groups of immigrant women to come out by telling them that the organizers “only wanted the good looking ones to come” -- by our standards politically incorrect but ultimately effective!

Her surviving children grew into successful professional adults. They had few toys but many books, and her love of reading has been passed on to the next generations. She would have loved an organization like RIF, and I am proud to give to it in her memory. The picture, taken in Central Park, is of her sons James (who did not live to adulthood) and Daniel (who would become Chief Inspector of the New York City Police Department.)

-- Kathleen O'Sullivan Keane

My grandmother, Della Logsdon (shown with grandpa Henry), born in 1884, never had a chance for much schooling herself, but she instilled a passion for learning in her eight children, believing that education was the key for each child to reach his or her highest potential. Although they grew up as sharecroppers' children on a small, hardscrabble farm in central Ohio, her children graduated from high school. Most went on to college and some obtained graduate degrees and achieved national recognition in their chosen fields.

My grandmother's passion for education continues to manifest itself in succeeding generations. She inspires me to support RIF of NOVA in its efforts to provide books to children in equally poor families, helping give these youngsters a chance to reach their highest potential.

-- Liz Promen

After my mom, Mabel "Brownie" Colton, retired from her job working at the Suffolk County Health Department, she volunteered at our local library three times a week to teach reading and writing to adults. I spoke with her about it, and what resonated most with me was her empathy for her students who were so embarrassed that they had never learned to read and her admiration for these new friends who persevered and ultimately succeeded. She was so very proud of each one of her students. My mom was a person always willing to help, and I think her own love of books and writing led her to this mission, which she did for many years.

-- Christian Colton ("Brownie" is shown with grandson Alex)

Every time I wore my soft pink fuzzy sweater, I felt like I was being hugged by my "Grama," Mary Keathley. I was in her kitchen a lot growing up, eating her homemade Rice Krispie treats and drinking root beer floats. She "put up" the most delicious tomato juice in Mason jars from tomatoes grown in her farm garden. She was an excellent seamstress, and I still have some of the clothes she made for my dolls. I love sewing, too.

It is said that you will not always remember what someone says but will always remember how they made you feel. With Grama, all of us felt so loved.

-- Krista Hunt (shown with Grama and her great granddaughter Carly)