Gretchen Hunsberger joined Reach Out and Read as Coordinator of Lynne Community Health Center, became Massachusetts Program Director in 2004 and finally worked as Director of Program Quality and Training at the National Center. Her commitment to Reach Out and Read was multi-layered, and she brought creative entrepreneurship, a meticulous attention to detail, and an ability to make things happen to all levels of the organization. Gretchen was the voice of thinking bigger and doing better. Most of all, Gretchen shared her passion with all of us for the most important thing - children's lives changing because of reading.

Gale Ivie was the regional leader for Kaiser Permanente's relationship with Reach Out and Read in Southern California for many years. Passionate about working to meet the physical, emotional and intellectual needs of under-served people, she diligently partnered with pediatric departments to assure timely and age-appropriate distribution of books to children, who would otherwise not have access to reading materials. Gale was a force of nature, who has left an indelible mark on the lives of so many within Reach Out and Read and in many organizations in the local community and nationally.

While we mourn the loss of these two bright lights in our organization, we are inspired by their legacy to the work of Reach Out and Read.

With best wishes,

Brian