Back in the 1980's, I worked in human resources at a large, international accounting firm in Chicago. I encountered a young man, straight out of college, who truly stood out in the group he started with. He had sparkling blue eyes and a smile that reflected real warmth and compassion. He was always willing to go out of his way to help. Maybe that's why I remembered John Wood some 20 years later, when I saw him on "Oprah" a few months ago.
It turns out that John, who worked only briefly at the accounting firm, went on to do some incredible things. In his professional career, he ended up at Microsoft. He had a six-figure salary, an expense account and traveled around the world as a marketing executive for the company, staying in the best hotels. He lived in Australia for a time and then China. Life was exciting.
On a hiking trip through Nepal, he had a life-changing experience. He encountered children who had no books to read. John found that this was common. The majority of children were not literate and many young girls were not even given the chance to go to school. John decided to do something extroadinary. He quit his job and took his savings and started a charity called "Room to Read" www.roomtoread.org .
"Room to Read" has built more than 5,000 libraries around the world and filled them with books. His goal in 2008 is to double that number. He has established scholarships for girls and also built schools and computer labs.
John has written a book about his journey and if you still need a Christmas present for someone, this book is inspirational and hard to put down. And in buying it you will help John's charity. The book is called Leaving Microsoft to Change the World. (to purchase the book use this link www.roomtoread.org.)
And if you're looking for a charity to give to, you can't find a better one than Room to Read. They've been recognized as a "Four Star Charity", which means that you'll know that most of your contribution goes toward the actual work of the charity and not to "overhead".
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Comments: 24
I'm going over to contribute what I can.
It is wonderful to read about people who have done extraordinary things to change the world, but then again, it is equally as wonderful to read about people who have done ordinary things to change the world.
Each of us changes the world every day ~ by just being here to experience the world.
Our world grows smaller and smaller by the minute. Each of us has a responsibility to change the world.....for the better.