Where 9/11 and a Love of Reading Intersect

 My heart is heavy as I write this post and the city outside my window is once again eerily quiet - 10 years ago at this moment I was sitting in a conference room in midtown watching in horror as the first building collapsed and praying that my family and friends were safe while worrying about what else was to come. I remember walking home later in the day with the fighter jets flying low over the city and being overwhelmed by all the uncertainty - we still hadn't heard from my Dad who worked across the street from the Towers and it was unclear if there were more attacks planned. It was the loneliest I have ever felt. Fortunately, we later heard from my Dad and when it was all said and done our entire family escaped unscathed.

Brooke Jackman's parents and sister holding a photo of Brooke (photo credit: NY Times)

I am painfully aware that many other families were not so lucky and my heart breaks for those lost on 9/11 and those left behind. One such family is the Jackman's - they lost Brooke who was 23 and working on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center on 9/11. Brooke had a love of books - her family talks about the backpack she always carried and how it was never without a book. Brooke also wanted to leave her career in finance and get a degree in social work - she had a real desire to help others. Unfortunately, she never had the opportunity to realize that dream and her life was cut short by the attack on the World Trade Center. Her family, however, decided to honor her legacy by founding the Brooke Jackman Foundation  which focuses on improving literacy among at-risk children in NYC.  Since its inception in 2001, the foundation has given away thousands of "Brooke's Books" and "Brooke's Packs" - in total, more than 100,000 books have been given to at-risk children.  The foundation also holds literacy events including a Read a Thon which was held yesterday in downtown Manhattan where authors and others read books to children.  You can read more about the Foundation in this NY Times article and this HuffPo piece about the books famous children's authors selected to donate to the Foundation. 

I find the Brooke Jackman Foundation inspiring and a glint of hope in so much sadness surrounding the tragedy of 9/11.  A legacy of literacy is so fitting for a young woman who loved to read and wanted to improve the lives of children and it is a great story of a family overcoming their own grief to honor their sister and daughter while doing good for many.  From one reader to another - we will never forget.