Jon Mark Beilue: Developing leaders, readers

WT staffer’s nonprofit makes its way to the Panhandle

Wherever Chris McGilvery is, he plants seeds. Wherever wife Taryn’s medical odyssey has taken their family, he has seen opportunity. The locations and the culture may change, but the need remains the same.

From Dominica, a 290-square-mile island of less than 100,000 people in the Caribbean, to Port Chester, N.Y., from Temple, Texas, to now in the Texas Panhandle, the West Texas A&M University instructional technology designer has promoted young student literacy and leadership through his nonprofit organization.

“Throughout life, most people wonder what their purpose is, and why are they here,” he said. “I’ve always wondered that. You may not realize your purpose until you are in full throttle. But by doing this, yes, this is my purpose. It’s been that way now for many years.”

It’s been that way since at least 2011 when Taryn studied at the Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica. McGilvery began work at the university and also volunteered in the town of Roseau. He quickly saw the sense of community and how people looked out for each other, but in volunteering at a primary school, he also saw poverty and lack of resources.

He thought of his mother, Bernadette, a native of the Philippines.

“She lived in a bamboo house with no running water. She had to leave school at age 11 to work on the family farm,” McGilvery said. “She married my dad who was stationed at Clark Air Force Base. As a child, my parents reminded my siblings and I how important education is. They encouraged us to always work hard and embrace the opportunity we have at our fingertips.”

McGilvery reached out to a primary school principal, who was pivotal in getting Chris and Taryn’s idea into the school. He spoke to the students of the importance of education in general and reading in particular, and what he’d like to do.

“Their faces are imprinted in my soul,” he said.

In the beginning, the McGilverys returned to Texas on school breaks and ransacked clearance aisles of art supplies, flip-flops, old cell phones, clothing and age-appropriate books for their Dominica return. It escalated in 2012 in the pursuit of a non-profit organization, thus named, “Give More HUGS,” an acronym for Help Unite Giving Souls. Families got involved.

Typically, when a family leaves Dominica, they have a garage sale to reduce the amount to take off the island. The McGilverys had one, raising $800 to buy more supplies and the registration of a nonprofit.

In time, Taryn began her clinical rotations in Westchester County in New York. Chris began work at Manhattanville College in instruction technology. He shared his story of Dominica with faculty, many of whom were enthused to be part of something similar.

So, while McGilvery forged partnerships with shipping companies to continue to supply Dominica with books and school supplies, he got the help of Manhattanville student volunteers to reach out to a Title I school in Port Chester, N.Y., 30 minutes north of New York City.

In early 2014, he received his first grant which helped with a book fair, school supplies and T-shirts that promoted and publicized “Give More HUGS.” He involved students of all ages to write encouraging notes in books.

“We wanted students to develop a love of reading because that is such a foundation of learning, and having access to all kinds of books is a huge part of that,” McGilvery said.

‘A very giving soul’

The McGilverys left New York for her family medicine residency at Baylor Scott and White in Temple, 1,650 miles away. Again, a new area that would require a startup. But not only were he and volunteers able to replicate the work in Dominica and New York, but a teacher ambassador project also was implemented.

“Teachers are the heart and soul of our communities,” McGilvery said. “They need our support. They are preparing future teachers, doctors, lawyers and engineers.”

Service projects began on the anniversary of Sept. 11 and on Martin Luther King’s birthday in January. Students wrote more than 600 notes of encouragement that went to a military children’s book project in an area dominated by Fort Hood.

But when Taryn’s residency was complete, another move was imminent. A native of Lamesa and with family in Amarillo, Dr. McGilvery secured a position with the Northwest Texas Physician Group in Canyon in 2019.

It was a familiar scenario for a family now what included two boys. New community, but the same need. In Canyon, it’s now Leaders Readers Network.

Dr. Mary Liz Brooks, assistant professor of media communications, was among the faculty from the College of Fine Arts and Humanities in a discussion about online teaching with McGilvery in the fall of 2019.  McGilvery’s interest was piqued when Brooks asked him how to develop community through online teaching. They later talked about his passion.

“What Chris has done since its inception almost a decade ago is inspiring,” Brooks said. “Chris is a very giving soul, and he is relentless in his pursuit to get new books, supplies and leadership opportunities into the hands of students and teachers who do not have access to those resources. His energy and passion are astounding.”

Initially, McGilvery’s nonprofit partnered with Heal the City and the Potter-Randall Medical Alliance to provide school supplies for 1,200 students. Since then, the Leaders Readers Network has provided 767 books, enough for each student at Canyon’s Reeves-Hinger Elementary. It has also partnered with students and teachers at Sam Houston Middle School in Amarillo and Adams Elementary in Pampa.

The nonprofit name change is because of an emphasis on students mentoring, encouraging and helping in the literacy campaign. Sydney Rogers, a 10 year old from Reeves-Hinger, spoke to the WT student government about her passion for the project and encouraged their help.

Photo: Students at Reeves Hinger Elementary School in Canyon show off books they were given through the Leaders Readers Network.

“We’re developing student leaders and readers and giving them an opportunity to be part of the solution,” McGilvery said. “This is also a way for kids to give back and lend their voice for good. If they learn this at an early age, there’s going to be so much more impact in not only transforming schools, but communities.”

Brooks, adviser for WT’s student advertising team, had Buffalo Advertising students write notes of encouragement for new books just prior to the Thanksgiving break last November.

“I think it taught them the value of what it means for younger students to have access to books,” Brooks said, “something that many of them probably hadn’t encountered in their lives.”

In July, McGilvery’s Leaders Readers Network was the recipient of a $2,500 grand prize in the 2020 Freedom Through Literacy Award from Judith’s Reading Room, a national literary nonprofit.

“I hope teachers and students will work together to solve issues in their community like illiteracy,” McGilvery said. “I hope teachers and students can work together to pave a way to see every child can have access to books and develop a love for learning. We have been able to create magical moments where reading spread joys and love for learning. I hope many more will join me in our efforts.”