In 1997, Ruth brought L.E.A.P., the Saturday morning Learning Enrichment Activities Program for children to its new home at Booker T. Since then, Ruth—a New York City public schoolteacher for 16 years and staff developer for the past six—has passionately and lovingly overseen the program, successfully creating a nurturing, literacy rich environment that inspires children to love reading.

Nine years later, she still communicates a sense of excitement and deep commitment as she describes the L.E.A.P. program and its benefits. “L.E.A.P. inspires a lot of loyalty,” Ruth says proudly, “and creates powerful connections with the kids and among the adults.” She credits an enthusiastic and consistent group of children and the dedication of a core group of volunteers with “keeping the program steady for the past ten years.”

Among them is Ruth’s husband, Jules Schroeder, who engages the children in lively discussions of current events and stimulates their curiosity with tales of his business travels to exotic locations around the world. “L.E.A.P. is an important part of our life that we love doing together,”

Ruth says, “it is not always easy to get up and get out but once we are there it is always a treasure.”

Hilde Hammond, has also been with L.E.A.P. from the very beginning and is the creative soul of the program. After several years of volunteering at L.E.A.P. while working in business, Hilde went to Bank Street and got a master’s degree in education. She taught for a number of years and is now a librarian in the New York City public school system. “L.E.A.P. made me think I could be a teacher,” Hilde says, “and it profoundly changed my life.”

A graduate of the High School of Art & Design, Hilde is always “amazed at how empowering art can be for children and how much it has to teach about self-confidence, persistence, and problem-solving.” As surprising and beautiful as the end products of art can be, and often are, she believes “it’s the process that really matters.”

“One of the things that is so special about L.E.A.P.,” Ruth says, “is that our kids thrive on the individual adult attention we are able to give them. In school classrooms and large families it can be hard for them to get this kind of one-on-one attention for an extended amount of time.”

Over the years, Ruth has also witnessed the benefits for volunteers. “Everybody’s life is enriched,” she says. “The volunteers who come each week get a kind of fulfillment and richness out of this experience that makes the program work so beautifully. They come here because they love to share books and art activities with the kids and share time with each other as adults. I have volunteers who tell me, ‘This is the favorite part of my week.’”

Thank you, Ruth, Jules, Hilde and all the wonderful L.E.A.P. volunteers for your commitment, caring, and for so generously sharing so many fun Saturday mornings with our children.