When most people hear “Macy’s”, their minds might go to the well-known department store at their local mall, or maybe even the iconic Thanksgiving Day parade. However, the word “Macy’s” has been attached to a slightly different cause. This past month, Macy’s Northpark partnered with various organizations to honor community members they believe make a true impact. RISD’s Denise Sandoval, Librarian at Carolyn G. Bukhair Elementary, was honored to receive one of the awards.
For over 20 years, Macy’s has partnered with Reading is Fundamental (RIF), the nation’s leading child literacy non-profit committed to inspiring the joy of reading in both children and adults, along with National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), an organization that is devoted to improving the mental health of students and their families, to recognize educators they believed were dedicated to improving student mental health and literacy levels. Both organizations awarded an educator they thought exemplified this.
On September 12th, Macy’s hosted the Advocate for Youth Award ceremony, where Ms. Denise Sandoval was awarded the Reading is Fundamental Educator Award. She was also gifted 100 book bags with books for students and a teacher’s lounge gift. Several of her students were excited to attend the event and celebrate Ms. Sandoval.
She is not only praised in the classroom for her dedication, but has also been noted for being a contributor to the growth within her school. In the classroom, students are encouraged to grow as she instills resilience and creativity in her teaching. She is committed to empowering every student’s love for reading, and strives to inspire young minds.
Sandoval has also worked with the RIF non-profit in the past. In 2022, she worked with the Book for Ownership program, receiving a grant to help 100 students expand their reading and make their own home library. Sandoval says her main goal is to give as many kids access to books as possible. “I believe that access to quality literature is essential for children to develop a love for reading”, Sandoval said in an interview.
This feature was written by Lake Highlands High School senior Avery Till, who is a member of the RISD Professional Internship Program that allows students to gain experience in a field or industry of their choice. Avery is interning with the RISD Strategy & Engagement department. She plans to study Sports Marketing at the University of Tennessee.
