Donna Porter, M.S., CCC–SP
Early Childhood Intervention And Dyslexia Coordinator
Picayune School District, Project H.O.P.E.
505 Laurel Street, Picayune, Mississippi 39466

On January 15, 2001, in Washington, D.C., Bobbie Barrows, was one of only ten winners from across America to receive the All AmeriCorps Award. An AmeriCorps member with the Picayune School District in Picayune, Mississippi, Mrs. Barrows received congratulations from many notable government officials, including Mississippi Senator Trent Lott, 33°, Grand Cross (pictured right with Mrs. Barrows in his Capitol Hill office). Mrs. Barrows received the "Getting Things Done" Award as a result of her service with AmeriCorps and the Future Teacher's Literacy Corps. A dyslexic herself, Mrs. Barrows helps dyslexic children learn to read. Also, by networking with Project H.O.P.E. (an early childhood and family literacy project funded largely by the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation) and the Picayune, Mississippi, Public School District, Mrs. Barrows initiated, as facilitator, a literacy class for adults using the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital Literacy Program. Currently, she is continuing the work she started in AmeriCorps and earning a bachelors degree in education with an area of specialty in reading.

During the Washington ceremonies, Harris Wofford, CEO of the Corporation for National Service, which oversees AmeriCorps, said: "Over the past six years, nearly 200,000 men and women have taken AmeriCorps' pledge to get things done for America. I salute Bobbi Barrows for her outstanding service, patriotism, and commitment. Bobbi represents the best of America, and I hope others will follow her example of service to our country."

Scottish Rite Masons can be proud of the fact that the extensive videotaped Literacy Program provided by Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, Texas, has played so important a part in bringing this high honor to Mrs. Barrows. Congratulations to her and everyone involved in this fine Scottish Rite service to our nation.