NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Cathy Leiber
www.JudithsReadingRoom.org
Judith’s Reading Room Names Recipient of its 2024 Founders’ Award
In honor of literacy heroes everywhere who nourish souls and fulfill dreams
September 12, 2024 — Judith’s Reading Room, a global literacy nonprofit organization founded in 2010 in the memory of Judith F. Krug, a distinguished librarian and first-cousin to the organization’s founders, established in 2022 its signature “Founders’ Award” to honor literacy heroes who have had to overcome immense obstacles to enrich lives through literacy.
Cathy and Scott Leiber, founders of Judith’s Reading Room, proudly announce that Jordan Butler, himself founder of the nonprofit Heavy Sound, East Lothian, Scotland is named recipient of the 2024 Founders’ Award. Cathy and Scott met Butler in August 2024 to dedicate the 107 th Judith’s Reading Room library in its 24th country at Heavy Sound, located near Edinburgh in the seaside village of East Lothian, Scotland.
L to R: Jordan Butler, Cathy Leiber, Scott Leiber at Heavy Sound, East Lothian, Scotland
Based on his own lived experience of homelessness, mental health, addiction and involvement in the criminal justice system of Scotland, Butler turned his life around, and in a herculean effort founded Heavy Sound to help other vulnerable and disconnected young people. Today, it is a thriving hub for some of the most vulnerable, at-risk and hardest to reach young people in Scotland. Heavy Sound provides a trusted space devoted to teaching bicycle repair, musical
instrumentation, and access to literacy through the recently dedicated Judith’s Reading Room library (shown below) filled with 124 ‘must-have’ Graphic Novels.
Judith’s Reading Room Library #107, East Lothian, Scotland
Butler recognizes the barriers illiteracy causes that haunt people throughout their lives. He sought to cut the cycle by inspiring and supporting others to become readers and writers. As a boy, Butler found solace from a dysfunctional home inside his community library. That library was a haven and shelter from the storm, while the librarians provided understanding and compassion. The library, librarians and books saved his life.
In recognition of Butler’s measurable impact on the life of disaffected fellow citizens, and his dedication to bring literature into their lives, Judith’s Reading Room is proud to name Butler its 2024 Founders’ Award recipient and awards him with a prize of $1,000.For more information about Judith’s Reading Room’s initiatives, including previous recipients of the Founders’ Award, visit www.judithsreadingroom.org.
The Founders’ Award
2024 – Mr. Jordan Butler, Heavy Sound, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Scotland
2022 – Ms. Basarat Kazim, Alif Laila Book Bus Society, Lahore, Pakistan
2022 – Ms. Simon Ke, Anjali House, Siem Reap, Cambodia
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