Frank Beamer named 2016 Red Cross Education Hero

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BLACKSBURG (WSLSL 10) - The 2016 Red Cross Education Hero actually doesn't spend every day in the classroom.

However, now that former Hokies head football coach Frank Beamer is retired, he has more time to stop in and read to kids as part of his initiative Herma's Readers.

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Getting books in the hands of young students was a fundamental belief of his mother, Herma, who served as an educator for more than 30 years.

He said she would be proud of the effort in her name.

The organization has distributed more than 170,000 books across the commonwealth, according to hermasreaders.net.

"I've always been kind of a simple person and try to get right to the heart of the matter. To me, starting out reading is the foundation and if you get the foundation right then I think it will last throughout," explained Beamer.

While he says he's not a hero, the children he reads to would probably argue otherwise.

The annual Celebration of Heroes breakfast is set for Tuesday, March 29 at The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

If you would like to attend tickets are $30 each.

For more information click here.


About the Author:

After working and going to school in Central Virginia for over five years, Lindsey’s made her way back home to the mountains.