“Perhaps Sir, you will someday come back with books”. These nine words changed the life of Room to Read founder John Woods, and the lives of many around the world. In 1998, Woods was trekking through Nepal for his first vacation in nine years. At the time, Woods was a global marketing executive for Microsoft, which meant he was traveling all the time. However, this was a different part of the world and the reason for his trip was far from work related. It was the trip that would alter his reality.

Once he saw the immediate need for books in remote villages, Woods returned to California and held a book drive with the help of his father. Many people were willing to help and a year later he brought the donated books back to the same Nepalese school. Woods thought this would would be the extent of his involvement, until he watched the books being delivered. The children grabbed the books anxiously, but then were disappointed because all of the books donated were written in English, not in their native language. Woods once again returned to the US with the feeling that there was something more for him to do, so in 2000, Woods quit the corporate world and officially started Room to Read.

“I was met with skepticism and sometimes ostracism from those I had surrounded myself with in professional and personal circles,” Woods remembers.

Yet, John Woods was able to prove these skeptics wrong. Room to Read is now one of the largest and most successful nonprofit organizations in the world. The organization focuses on working in collaboration with local communities, partner organisations, and local governments. He now serves in ten countries throughout Africa and Asia with the help of his team and the support of communities like ours.

While it might be scary to take the the jump he did, it is not impossible.

“At times, it was a lonely and scary journey however, I wake up everyday feeling fulfilled and driven in my work and could not be more at peace with the decision I made,” Woods said.

Woods works harder and travels more today than he ever did with Microsoft. His job has gotten more difficult; it commands an incredible time commitment because of managerial responsibilities and an extensive travel schedule. This does not mean Woods is unhappy at all, but quite the opposite.

“I receive much more fulfillment from my work,” Woods said. “Being in a rural village on the day the parents, elders, students, and teachers come together to celebrate the opening of a library or school.  I don’t think anything could be closer to Nirvana for me.”

In the town of Aspen we are constantly surrounded by people who feel like giving back and are able to make a difference. With that being said, not all of us are able to quit our current lives and start a non-profit. Mr. Woods made this message clear when I met with him at a Room to Read luncheon this past January. Even though we can not all do what he is doing, there are still ways in which we can help out. My family and I were very inspired by the goals Woods and his team presented so we have committed to help fundraise in order to build a library in South Vietnam. Becoming a part of the organisation has been very easy and inspirational. Wood describes this as one of the reasons Room to Read is separated from other nonprofits.

“The fact that we’re focusing our work on children and developing programs that are sustainable and effective allows our investors to point to concrete outcomes. They can see our results, and they know that their support will directly affect the lives of children,” Woods said. “We tell donors exactly how much it costs to build a school, publish a children’s book, establish a library or to support a year of a girls’ education. So, what you get when you make a donation to Room to Read is a very direct, very tangible result.”

During the year my family has worked with Room to Read, we have already received two progress reports on our library and have been in strong communication with a representative so that there is no disconnect.

While those are the decisions my family and I have made, there are so many other ways to get involved with this organization. At Aspen High School we have a Room to Read club that is a branch of the Aspen chapter. The goal of the club is to spread the word of the growing need for literacy and to help Room to Read achieve their larger goals.

Beyond the club you can also check out Room to Read’s program, Students Helping Students, at www.roomtoread.org/students . The reason for developing such a program where students are the leaders is because Woods is “in awe by the intense desire of students to do something in order to change the world as they embark on their professional careers.”

With the growth of the organization, Room to Read hopes to continually strengthen its programs. In the near future, Room to Read hopes to reach more communities and new provinces throughout countries it is currently operating in. While expanding, there is also hope to enhance their teaching programs. With this foundation, children are more likely to become successful and “crack the code”. Cracking the code means that children in first and second grade are reading and writing familiar words. Room to Read is looking forward to fulfilling its commitment to reaching 10 million children by the end of 2015.

John Woods had an idea and desire to change the world so he did exactly that, but he does not have to be the only one. We are all capable, we are all able to make a difference no matter how large or small.

“In a world that is hyper-connected, I hope that the work of Room to Read and other great nonprofits inspires you to take action and engage your networks (friends, family, teachers, etc.) to turn the tide against illiteracy,” Woods said. “My aspiration is that the movement to change the world is embraced by audiences of all ages as a guide to doing something significant. The world needs great thinkers but even more so, it needs great doers. Dare to dream big dreams and act on them”