Our Founders
Book Buddies was founded by Inez and Aidan Kephart in 2019. Inez is now a Senior at the University of Rochester studying Psychology, Mandarin, and Spanish. She currently works to develop educational opportunities for Book Buddies. Aidan is a Sophomore at the University of Missouri School of Journalism where he is a Jumpstart Literacy Tutor serving Columbia preschool-aged children (https://career.missouri.edu/jumpstart/). Additionally, Aidan collaborates with Inez to develop educational programing and continues to record books for our virtual library.
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Our Volunteers
Book Buddies is supported by dedicated teen volunteers who give their time to foster a love for reading within primarily Title One elementary schools in their communities. On a weekly basis, Book Buddies volunteers are reading to children in schools, online, or adding readings to the Book Buddies online catalog for students to enjoy at any anytime.
Maria Gayanilo
(Book Buddies Volunteer Since 2023)
Hi! I’m Maria, and I am a 10th grader at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. I was part of the tech crew at school for both the Middle School musical and play, and I was the manager of the 8th grade boys football team this past year. I play tennis outside of school and I am on the squash team. Art is my passion, and I love to draw, paint, crochet, bake, and more.
(Book Buddies Volunteer Since 2023)
Hi! I’m Maria, and I am a 10th grader at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. I was part of the tech crew at school for both the Middle School musical and play, and I was the manager of the 8th grade boys football team this past year. I play tennis outside of school and I am on the squash team. Art is my passion, and I love to draw, paint, crochet, bake, and more.
Sofia River Kephart - President - Fall 2023
Site Lead - City of Refuge
(Book Buddies Volunteer Since 2022)
Hi! I'm River and I am a 10th grader at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. Outside of school I am a dancer with the Junior Rhythm Keepers, a tap dance company based in Decatur, GA. In addition to Book Buddies I also volunteer with LifeLine Animal Project where I spend time with homeless dogs and cats helping to socialize them for their forever homes! I enjoy reading graphic novels and I look forward to reading with you!
Site Lead - City of Refuge
(Book Buddies Volunteer Since 2022)
Hi! I'm River and I am a 10th grader at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. Outside of school I am a dancer with the Junior Rhythm Keepers, a tap dance company based in Decatur, GA. In addition to Book Buddies I also volunteer with LifeLine Animal Project where I spend time with homeless dogs and cats helping to socialize them for their forever homes! I enjoy reading graphic novels and I look forward to reading with you!
Ronald Ceesay
(2019 - 2023)
Ronald Ceesay attended the Taft School in Watertown, CT where he was very involved in his school community including debate club, Student Government, and the Black/Latinx Male Affinity group. He developed an interest in filmmaking and created a few projects dating back to his elementary school days! An avid reader from a young age, some of Ronald's favorite books as a young child included Catch-22 and the Marvelous Land of Oz.
Ronald is currently an undergraduate student at Wesleyan University.
(2019 - 2023)
Ronald Ceesay attended the Taft School in Watertown, CT where he was very involved in his school community including debate club, Student Government, and the Black/Latinx Male Affinity group. He developed an interest in filmmaking and created a few projects dating back to his elementary school days! An avid reader from a young age, some of Ronald's favorite books as a young child included Catch-22 and the Marvelous Land of Oz.
Ronald is currently an undergraduate student at Wesleyan University.
Ella Dawson
(2019 - 2023)
Ella Dawson attended Maynard Jackson High School in Atlanta, GA where she was a founding member of the school’s Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl team. During her time on the competition team, Ella helped the school win first place in their region!
Ella is currently an undergraduate student at Gettysburg College.
(2019 - 2023)
Ella Dawson attended Maynard Jackson High School in Atlanta, GA where she was a founding member of the school’s Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl team. During her time on the competition team, Ella helped the school win first place in their region!
Ella is currently an undergraduate student at Gettysburg College.
Board of Directors
Brad Hugick
Term: 2019 - Present
Brad Hugick has over 25 years of software product development expertise and currently serves as an Enterprise Coach at Cox Automotive and leads transformational changes to inspire continuous improvement across product development teams at scale. Brad also serves as a Founding Member of the Board of Directors for the Kuyahoora Valley Foundation, Inc., a 501c(3) with the motto, “Small Town Values for Life” that has raised and donated over $500K to those in need throughout the United States.
Brad graduated Magna Cum Laude from Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
Term: 2019 - Present
Brad Hugick has over 25 years of software product development expertise and currently serves as an Enterprise Coach at Cox Automotive and leads transformational changes to inspire continuous improvement across product development teams at scale. Brad also serves as a Founding Member of the Board of Directors for the Kuyahoora Valley Foundation, Inc., a 501c(3) with the motto, “Small Town Values for Life” that has raised and donated over $500K to those in need throughout the United States.
Brad graduated Magna Cum Laude from Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
Sarah Rosenberg
Term: 2019 - Present
Hi, my name is Sarah Rosenberg, and I am a retired-corporate-attorney-turned-community-engagement- professional. I collaborate with a range of nonprofit corporations, small organizations, and individuals in need of resources, and I sit on the Boards of Directors of six nonprofit organizations, five of which I helped to form. I am deeply committed to equity, inclusion, and justice in all its manifestations with an emphasis on antiracism. A writer and photographer, a formidable foster of kittens, and the constantly humbled parent of a teenager, I am an admitted social media überconsumer and subscription-channel, binge-watching escapist. My current reading list includes nonfiction works about collaborative consumption and the impacts of systemic “isms” in Western society.
Term: 2019 - Present
Hi, my name is Sarah Rosenberg, and I am a retired-corporate-attorney-turned-community-engagement- professional. I collaborate with a range of nonprofit corporations, small organizations, and individuals in need of resources, and I sit on the Boards of Directors of six nonprofit organizations, five of which I helped to form. I am deeply committed to equity, inclusion, and justice in all its manifestations with an emphasis on antiracism. A writer and photographer, a formidable foster of kittens, and the constantly humbled parent of a teenager, I am an admitted social media überconsumer and subscription-channel, binge-watching escapist. My current reading list includes nonfiction works about collaborative consumption and the impacts of systemic “isms” in Western society.
Monica Garcia-Osuna
Term: 2022 - Present
Greetings! My name is Monica and I am a public health nurse with a focus on maternal morbidity and mortality in the state of Georgia. I am a proud parent to Inez, Aidan, and Sofia and grateful for the opportunity to work with them on their mission to nurture a love of reading in children. Some of my favorite memories have been made reading with them books by Kate DiCamillo, Leo Lionni, Lois Lowry, Meg Medina, Robert McCloskey, Patricia Polacco, Jason Reynolds, William Steig, and Jacqueline Woodson among others.
Term: 2022 - Present
Greetings! My name is Monica and I am a public health nurse with a focus on maternal morbidity and mortality in the state of Georgia. I am a proud parent to Inez, Aidan, and Sofia and grateful for the opportunity to work with them on their mission to nurture a love of reading in children. Some of my favorite memories have been made reading with them books by Kate DiCamillo, Leo Lionni, Lois Lowry, Meg Medina, Robert McCloskey, Patricia Polacco, Jason Reynolds, William Steig, and Jacqueline Woodson among others.