Sponsor Spotlight

Pia Sareen Kumar

Title: Co-owner, Chief Strategy Officer, Universal Plastics

Why is Supporting Link to Libraries a Priority for You? Because supporting children's literacy is critical in our community - reading empowers, it gives the imagination the flight every child deserves and it gives us all access to things that we can be and do and achieve. And because no organization is supporting children's literacy in our community with as much impact at Link to Libraries.

What was Your Favorite Book as a Child? As an Adult? As a child, I loved anything written by Enid Blyton. If I had to pick one, I would have to go with The Magic Treehouse Series. As an adult, I have recently loved The Midnight Library by Matt Haig and Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari. I couldn't possibly pick a favorite adult book! I also very much enjoy several young adult authors including Lois Lowry - Number the Stars and Jerry Spinelli - Star Girl.

What is Your Favorite Reading Memory? Smelling the pages of the old books in my father's library when I was growing up - and then pulling one out at random and getting lost in it. 

How Does Reading Play a Role in Your Life Today? It connects our family - we do a family read with three generations! And it reminds me that there is always another story to unfold.

Drew DiGiorgio

Title: President & Chief Executive Officer, Wellfleet

Why is Supporting Link to Libraries a Priority for You: Reading is a lifelong tool. So, making it fun for kids, and seeing their appreciation of a good story is extremely fulfilling. Reading allows for more than just learning. It expands imagination, allows for self-awareness and fosters creativity.

What was Your Favorite Book as a Child? As an Adult? As a kid, Danny and the Dinosaur was totally my speed. Nowadays, I mostly read nonfiction books like Outliers by Malcom Gladwell.

Favorite Reading Memory: My favorite reading experience is actually my daughter's. As a young adult, she would make an annual reading list and created her own blog to talk about the books she read. She read 100 books her freshman year in high school!



How Does Reading Play a Role in Your Life Today: Reading is more of a tool for me today than entertainment. I enjoy topical reading; newsletters like the "Morning Brew", Wall Street Journal articles, or books on professional growth and development. 

Gary Rome

Title: President & Executive Officer, Gary Rome Auto Group

Why is Supporting Link to Libraries a Priority for You: It is important for me do donate books to the Peck School to connect with the community and support literacy among our youth. Our youth is our future and it’s important for me to ensure they are supported throughout their educational journey here in Holyoke.

Favorite Book: I loved the Winnie the Pooh books and Charlotte’s Web.

Favorite Reading Memory: My favorite reading memory is my grandmother tucking me into bed and reading to me. 



How Does Reading Play a Role in Your Life Today: Reading is important to me for personal development. It also is a great way for me to connect with my children. My daughter, Sydney, is a voracious reader. She read all of the Harry Potter books and then we watched the movies as a family. Reading with my family creates memories and helps us bond as a family. 

Steve Lowell

Title: President, Monson Savings Bank

Sponsor Since: 2011

Schools Sponsored (5): Quarry Hill Community School (Monson); Elias Brookings School (Springfield); Springfield Public Day Elementary School; Springfield Public Day Middle School and Stanley M. Koziol Elementary (Ware)

Favorite Book:  I am an avid reader and have many favorite books in different genres. However, if forced to pick one, I would have to say Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.

Favorite Reading Memory:  Reading Drummer Hoff Fired It Off to my daughter when she was about 4 years old and going to bed. We would read the book then continue to make up rhymes until she fell asleep.

Favorite Place to Read: My favorite place to read is while on vacation. Whether traveling and reading a travel guide about the next day’s sights or just staying at home and reading a novel, I find it to be very relaxing.



Why is Supporting Link to Libraries Important to You: Reading is a critical component to every child’s development. I credit much of my success to being an avid reader. Unfortunately, not every child has the type of access to quality books that fulfill this need. Link to Libraries works to fill this void by supplying books for school libraries and individual children so they can start to build their own libraries.