Changing Lives, One Book at a Time
By Nishant Upadhyay, American Family Insurance Info and Data Mgmt Vice President
In April, I had the pleasure of spending a day with my team at American Family Insurance volunteering in the community. Although I always appreciate time with my team — especially time like this outside the office — this experience was extra special for me.
Our assignment was with the Rotary Club’s Books for the World program. Specifically, we sorted and packed books for shipment to countries around the world, including many in southern Africa, Central America and South America, also Afghanistan, India and Pakistan.
As I filled those boxes with books, I thought about the kids who would receive them on the other end. Kids in places where reading material is a luxury. Kids just like me, growing up in India.
I remembered my summer breaks when it was too hot to be outside. But I could escape the heat because I had books — two each month chosen from a box very much like those we were packing that day.
Instead of sweltering miserably through each day I was transported to places I couldn’t travel to — faraway places I assumed I’d likely never see. I had adventures and solved mysteries with The Hardy Boys. In short, I became a reader. And I was inspired to reach for more.
Because of those books, I got a good education. I was motivated to be successful so I could see those places I’d only read about. So I could give my children a more comfortable life than I had. So they could experience the world firsthand in a way I hadn’t been able to at their age.
I’m grateful that American Family Insurance is such a strong supporter of volunteerism — even paying us for the time we give. Packing up books with my team that day was about so much more than just sorting, filling and lifting boxes.
It was about paying it forward and changing lives, one book at a time.
