How Your Kindness Helped Hayden Find His Way Into Reading
By Eric Steckel | June 16, 2026
You gave a bright child a fresh start
Hayden did not have to catch up alone. Your support placed caring tutors beside him when he needed help most.
Hayden is the kind of child who makes people lean in.
His Succeeding by Reading tutor, Ted Streeter, says, “Hayden has a tender and sensitive heart.” And week by week, as Ted kept showing up, that tender heart began to trust.
His mother, Shawna, says he is a fast learner. But Hayden entered school this year after missing three years of formal classroom learning. That meant his reading journey began with a steep climb ahead.
By the time tutoring began, he had a lot of catching up to do.
As they read together, Ted noticed something important: Hayden often understood what a sentence meant, even when he could not yet read every word.
Will you complete HER Circle of Care?
Through one-on-one reading and math tutoring, and family support, you will nurture an eager child in a circle of care so they may succeed in school.
Will you complete HER Circle of Care?
Through one-on-one reading and math tutoring, and family support, you will nurture an eager child in a circle of care so they may succeed in school.
But if he came to a hard word, he would frequently look away and guess a word that seemed to fit.
So Ted gently brought him back.
“Look at the word.
Sound it out.
You can do this.”
Week by week, because of your kindness, Ted and fellow tutor Kelsey Kobayashi helped this bright third grader slow down, focus, and try again. Reading did not change for him in one big moment. It changed through steady encouragement, patient practice, and caring adults who kept showing up.
And he began to grow.
This year, Hayden completed two reading zones — a powerful sign of his progress, effort, and growing confidence.
“Hayden just needs the right ingredients — and he’ll take off.”— Ted Streeter, tutor
Shawna has seen the difference. She is grateful for the support her son has received and hopes he can continue in the fall. Through FamilyBridge, she is also staying connected with resources that can support their family beyond the school year.
Because of you, Hayden did not have to catch up alone.
Your generosity surrounded Hayden with a Circle of Care — tutoring, encouragement, and connection.
Your gift today can help more children find their way into reading.
Will you give children the right help at the right time?
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