Congratulations to our dear friend and mentor, Rich Male, who is being honored with the Steve Graham Award for Building Nonprofit Capacity from the Colorado Nonprofit Association. Rich has been a hugely important member of the Ethiopia Reads family since the very beginning, and he’s helped us bring the power of books to tens and thousands of children across Ethiopia.

When members of First Presbyterian Church in Grand Forks, ND were drawing up bylaws and figuring out how to form as a legal nonprofit in the late 1990s, Rich—a friend and adviser of Jane Kurtz from the days when she was the director of a nonprofit in southern Colorado—stepped in to help. A few years later, Ethiopia Reads was at a crossroads. Once again, Rich stepped forward. This time, he offered space in his office and mentoring for the first paid staff member who helped Ethiopia Reads grow and develop its mission. Over the years, Rich facilitated board retreats, led strategic planning sessions, provided training, visited Ethiopia Reads programs in Ethiopia, and helped in hundreds of little, practical ways.

Rich now has a twenty-year record of support: he has listened well and given advice, help and little kindnesses to a small, determined staff and group of volunteers working to open the wide world of reading and thinking for Ethiopian children and youth.

Ethiopia Reads is just one of dozens and dozens of organizations across Colorado and the world who have benefited from Rich’s insight, knowledge, boldness, encouragement, vision, and friendship. Throughout his long career, which began with his student activism during the Civil Rights era, Rich has demonstrated again and again the difference that just one person can make in the world.

Congratulations, Rich! We are proud of you, and we love you!