Former Microsoft exec touts Room-to-Read at Eliot School in Needham

Since last spring, Eliot students have been raising money for every page of a book they read to donate to the foundation, which works to create educational opportunities in developing nations.

In addition to raising money, the students learned about the nations that they were working to help, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Zambia. The students “traveled” to these countries by tracking the miles by the number of pages they have read, while also raising money.

“We expected to raise $1,000,” said Eliot Principal Suzanne Wilcox, “and we’ve raised over $4,800. We’re still counting.”

The read-a-thon ended Friday, but Wilcox said the students have other fundraising plans in mind to bring even more money to the Room-to-Read foundation.

In an interview after his presentation, Wood said the $4,800 is enough to open a library somewhere in Asia.

“The reason Room-to-Read has been so successful is because we make a small amount of money go a long way,” Wood said. “(With that money) in the developing world you can actually open an entire library, train the librarian, stack it up, put in the shelves, the desks, the chairs, the books, and support it for three years.”

Wilcox said the school will continue to work with the foundation in the coming years, and encourages others who are interested in starting a similar program to contact her.

“This is a great model because it teaches the kids geography, it encourages them to read, and we’re reminding these kids that they’re lucky to have what they have,” Wood said.

The check that students presented to John Wood.

Students tracked the distance from their school to the countries that the Room-to-Read Foundation works with.