Bob Alexander and Ira

As a young teacher, Bob Alexander was impressed by many of his students. Sometimes several students from the same family would attend the school, and he'd become close with the family as well. One in such family in particular had a young son named, Ira, with an irrepressible charm and undeniable potential. Ira liked sports and when summer came, he was happy to put the books away and spend his long summer days on the basketball court with friends. However, that meant that when he returned to school in the Fall, it was always struggle to re-gain what he had lost of his studies over the summer. Summer school could not help because a severe economic downturn had eliminated that option for many families like Ira's.

One afternoon as summer approached, Bob realized he was overlooking an opportunity. He was going to go to India that Summer, where he had previously served in the Peace Corps. He spoke with Ira's parents and invited the student along. They liked the idea of an educational adventure for their son, to keep him on track over the summer.

That trip to India changed Ira's life. With Bob Alexander as his mentor, Ira gained a unique perspective on the importance of education and community service. Today, Ira gives back to the community by serving as a firefighter and as an advocate for public safety. He and his wife have two school-age children and constantly emphasize the importance of education in their home. On a recent visit with the family, Ira's was explaining how his son would be taking a college level course this summer, already planning the boy's path to college. When Bob speaks about the importance of education, his commitment is based in something far deeper than words. He knows what a little mentoring, or the right opportunity, can mean to a child and to the generations that follow.