For Immediate Release

Mr. Walker and Mr. Wasserman, existing chairs of regional advisory boards and individual volunteer reading mentors, add financial, legal and regional expertise

Wellesley, MA, November 14, 2022 – National literacy and mentoring non-profit, Read to a Child^®, announced today that David Walker and Richard Wasserman have joined its Board of Directors, bringing financial and legal expertise, as well as regional insights and leadership to the national board.  Mr. Walker, a resident of Brighton, MI, has served as Read to a Child’s Metro Detroit regional advisory board chair for the last 6 years and recently retired from Level One Bancorp after 13 years as EVP/CFO.  Mr. Wasserman, a resident of Wethersfield, CT, has served as the Greater Hartford regional advisory board chair for the last 5 years and recently retired as a Partner from Day Pitney LLP, where he remains Of Counsel.  Both men, who will also remain active on each regions’ advisory board, have served as reading mentors in Read to a Child’s Read Aloud Mentoring Program for more than 8 years, working one-on-one with multiple children on a weekly basis.    

“I am thrilled that Rich and Dave are joining the national board where their wisdom, experience and passion for our mission will help Read to a Child expand to serve more students from under-resourced communities across the country,” said Paul Lamoureux, CEO of Read to a Child. “After lengthy service as advisory board chairs and as volunteer reading mentors in Detroit and Hartford, as well as through individual expertise in legal and financial matters, they will each bring valuable insights and guidance to the national board as we strive to achieve the ambitious growth goals set out in our strategic plan.”

“I am truly passionate about Read to a Child’s mission and am honored to join its Board of Directors,” said Mr. Walker. “It has been my pleasure to chair the Detroit advisory board, but even more so to experience a one-on-one connection with multiple children in the program.  It is clear to me that the individual attention we are able to provide these under-served children is crucial, not only in boosting literacy skills and enhancing their self-esteem, but in truly providing a foundation for success in life.  It is my goal to bring the Read Aloud Mentoring Program to as many children as possible throughout Metro Detroit and beyond.”

“I am excited to join Read to a Child’s National Board to support the mission of fostering a love of reading and improving literacy skills in children from under-served communities,” said Mr. Wasserman.  “The pandemic has led directly to reading score declines in children from under-served communities, compounding an already alarming lack of reading proficiency. I look forward to working with the existing national board and staff leadership, as well as with the Greater Hartford regional board of advisors, to expand the program for children who are most in-need in Greater Hartford and across the country.”

About David Walker

Mr. Walker retired from Level One Bancorp in August 2022 after 13 years as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer.  He previously spent 24 years at GMAC (now Ally) in finance, mortgage and as Treasurer from 2007-2009.   Dave has been married for 37 years to Beth, a business school classmate, and is the proud father of Sara Walker, MD who owns the Performing, Endurance, and Artistic Athlete Clinic in Salt Lake City and Jeff Walker, a Member Services Coordinator for Kraft Sports and Entertainment Group (New England Patriots).   David received a BS from Brown University, and MBA from University of Michigan.  He also served as a volunteer reading mentor for 5 children at Bow Elementary School in Detroit from 2014-2019 and 4 children at Detroit Leadership Academy from 2019-2022.  Mr. Walker joined Read to a Child’s Metro Detroit advisory board in January 2016 and has served as the advisory board chair since May 2016.

About Richard Wasserman

Mr. Wasserman retired as a partner from Day Pitney LLP at the end of 2022 after practicing law with the firm for over 40 years.  He remains Of Counsel with the firm, which has close to 300 attorneys in 13 offices in Boston, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Providence, and Washington, DC.  Rich has been married to Cindy Wasserman for over 40 years.  Cindy and Rich have 3 children and 4 grandchildren – to whom they frequently have read over the years.  Rich received his BA from The University of Connecticut, and his JD from the Boston University School of Law.  He has served as a Read to a Child volunteer reading mentor for 2 children at Betances Early Learning Lab (2015-2019), 3 children at Dr. Michael D. Fox Elementary School (2019-2022), and 2 children at Parkville Community School (the current 2022-23 year), all in Hartford.  Mr. Wasserman joined Read to a Child’s Greater Hartford advisory board in March 2016 and has served as the advisory board’s chair since March 2017.

About the Read Aloud Mentoring Program

In Read to a Child’s Read Aloud Mentoring Program, an adult is partnered one-on-one with a student attending one of its partner elementary schools for a rewarding, weekly read aloud experience. The relationship typically lasts for the entire school year and often extends for multiple years through the end of fourth grade. The simple act of reading aloud to a child once a week, over time, improves literacy skills and self-esteem and can have a profound impact on the child’s future. The Read Aloud Mentoring Program also offers the adult a convenient, joyful, and meaningful way to give back.

About Read to a Child 

Read to a Child (readtoachild.org) is a national literacy and mentoring non-profit that fosters a love of reading, improves literacy skills and supports socio-emotional well-being in students from under-resourced communities.  Read to a Child partners with thousands of community and corporate volunteer mentors from more than 125 local businesses and organizations who read one-on-one to elementary students at Title 1 schools in 18 under-resourced districts in the greater metropolitan areas of Boston, Detroit, Hartford, Los Angeles and Miami. 

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Contact: Kristen Baxter

National Development Director

Read to a Child

(401) 316-2148

kristen.baxter@readtoachild.org