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“I think the one thing that separates Take
Stock from other organizations is the fact
that you are assigned a mentor as you
work your way toward the scholarship. I
is any more powerful than the half hour
mentee at a school.”
Saving Starfish
When asked what inspires her to
volunteer, Graham points to the story of
A woman was walking along the beach
after a storm. There were thousands of
back into the water.
She had been doing this for some time
— Adapted from The Star Thrower by
Loren C. Eiseley
“This story is my guiding principle,”
Graham says. “Those kids who receive
Take Stock scholarships - they are
need to reach. But for those that we do, we
are changing lives and changing families.”
She says the same is true for the women
who benefit from AAUW. “When you
educate a woman, you change society,
and you certainly change a family,” she
L ifelong L essons
Originally from Ohio, Graham moved to
Bradenton with her parents after high
school. “I was an Ohio farm girl in a tiny
town, kind of a dot in the road compared to
Bradenton,” she says. “After high school,
my dad sold the farm, and we moved
down here.” Graham attended Manatee
Community College (now the State
College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota)
and then USF in Tampa.
“My parents were advocates for
education,” she says. “My dad was
not an educated person, as far as
her 97th birthday in December. “I get my
persistence and strength and passion for
education from both of my parents, but
certainly from my mother.”
Graham met her husband Stephen when
they were both teaching at Bayshore
Middle. “I loved teaching,” Graham
relationships that fostered in those early
teaching days and through our teaching
careers.” Steve is also retired with 40
years of service to Manatee County
middle schools.
centering for us.”
Steve also volunteers with TSIC and is
currently mentoring two students. “Steve
is a great support,” Graham says. “I could
not do the many things I do if it were not
for his support.”
Although they do not have children,
Graham and her husband are the “proud
parents” of a seven-year-old Boston Terrier
named Cagney. They enjoy going to the
theatre, reading and traveling. Between
all their volunteering and hobbies, the
Grahams stay plenty busy in retirement.
a place for everyone that will give a new
meaning to their life in retirement. I love
working with kids, and the volunteer work
I do is a way for me to continue that. I
think any way that we can help people
my retirement is pretty much devoted
to that.”