Reading for Drew
Every child deserves the opportunity to learn to read.
Reading for Drew is a fully funded, need-based scholarship programme established in memory of my younger brother, Drew.
Through specialised, individualised reading instruction, the programme helps children with dyslexia and other reading difficulties access the support they need, regardless of their family's financial circumstances.
Because learning to read can change a child's story.
Drew’s Story
Drew was my little brother and best friend.
As a child, he was a gentle soul with a wickedly dry sense of humour. We spent hours playing together. I remember sneaking out of the house dressed as ninjas to spy on our parents' dinner parties through the windows, and convincing him to play dolls with me, which he somehow never complained about. We read together, made up adventures and shared the sort of childhood memories that stay with you long after you've grown up.
Eventually, my little brother grew to be a six-foot-two overprotective teddy bear who never quite stopped looking out for his big sister. He was fiercely proud of his Irish heritage and of his service as a United States Marine. He loved gardening, landscaping and working with his hands, particularly when it meant creating something peaceful.
But Drew also faced challenges that shaped much of his life.
He struggled with severe dyslexia and ADHD. His learning difficulties were misdiagnosed, and he never received the specialised instruction he needed. Instead, he grew up believing he wasn't intelligent. I knew a different Drew: thoughtful, funny, creative and capable of so much more than his struggles in the classroom suggested.
As adults, life took us to different parts of the world. We never really had the opportunity to get to know each other in that new chapter of our lives. Drew struggled with addiction, and we lost him to an overdose far too young after years of suffering needlessly.
One of my greatest regrets is that my children never had the chance to know the brother I grew up with: the gentle little boy who would play dolls with his sister, the mischievous partner in my childhood adventures, and the fiercely protective man he became.
I often wonder how different his life might have been if his learning difficulties had been recognised and properly supported. I cannot change his story, but I can help change the experience of another child.
We call it Reading for Drew because he is no longer here to turn the pages of his own story. So we read for him. Every child who discovers the joy of reading, every word that becomes a little easier, and every new chapter opened through this scholarship is a way of keeping his memory alive.
Drew's story ended far too soon, but through Reading for Drew, he can be part of helping other children write theirs.
The Reading for Drew Scholarship
Reading for Drew provides fully funded, individualised reading and spelling instruction to children whose families might otherwise be unable to afford specialised support.
Through the Orton–Gillingham approach, each child receives structured, multisensory instruction tailored to their individual learning needs, helping them develop the skills and confidence to become more independent readers.
What the Scholarship Provides
Fully funded, one-to-one online reading and spelling sessions
Individualised instruction using the Orton–Gillingham approach
Digital learning materials and activities for practice between sessions
Ongoing progress monitoring to guide instruction
Who Can Apply?
The scholarship is intended for children who:
Experience significant difficulties with reading, spelling or decoding
Would benefit from specialised literacy intervention
Come from families for whom the cost of private instruction presents a financial barrier
A formal diagnosis of dyslexia is not required.
Scholarships are awarded based on educational need, financial circumstances and available programme capacity.
Scholarship Dates
Applications for the 2027 Reading for Drew Scholarship are now open.
17 December 2026 — Applications Close
17 January 2027 — Families Notified
1 February 2027 — Scholarship Instruction Begins
Applications close each year on Drew's birthday, 17 December. Scholarship decisions are announced by 17 January, with instruction beginning on 1 February.
Selected families will receive further information about scheduling and an initial reading assessment before instruction begins.