NEW YORK CITY — A team player both on the diamond and off, the work of Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees leaves countless baseball fans rising to their feet with the beloved saying “All rise for the Judge!” 

While known for his ability to smash a fastball straight out of the park, number 99’s community-minded efforts are also a home run in an effort to raise up a better world thanks in part to the Aaron Judge ALL RISE Foundation, a non-profit with a mission to inspire children and youth to become responsible citizens by engaging them in activities via a world-wide book club designed by Sullivan County’s own, Dr. Nancy Hackett. 

As sitting Chair of the SUNY Sullivan Board of Trustees, former Superintendent of the Sullivan West Central School District, lifelong educator and Yankee superfan, Hackett’s role with the ALL RISE Foundation as designer of the book club remains as pivotal as it is as personally rewarding for her in the encouragement of growing childhood literacy in more than 26 states and 5 countries across the globe.

“It is all a labor of love,” Hackett said, “being a life-time educator, you always want to make sure the kids are reading and it is so much fun doing anything we can to promote that.” 

Hackett’s work alongside the Foundation all started following her retirement in August of 2018, when she saw the good work of the Foundation being done and reached out to Aaron Judge’s mother, Patty, a fellow educator, champion of childhood literacy and Executive Director and President of the Foundation, to pitch ideas. 

And the ideas were right down the center of the strike zone. 

“It was an instant ‘oh, you’re a teacher, I am a teacher, let’s talk about this,’” Hackett recalled. “That was the component she was looking for. So I gave her some ideas, and she was like ‘let’s do it.’ Our goal was that if we could get one more kid to read, that would be a success for our first year, and now it’s really going strong.”

That like-minded idea eventually blossomed into what the book club is today. Although the idea for the initiative was originally delayed due to Covid-19 in 2020, Hackett noted that this summer will mark the third year of ensuring that student learning happens wherever and whenever, especially during summer months. 

In its first year, the book “Hey Dad, Let’s Have A Catch!” by Harold Theurer was the main piece of literature utilized by the Foundation. Since then, the book club has vastly expanded its selection to be limited only by a student’s imagination.

To show appreciation for her efforts to lay the inroads in the interest of enhancing reading for youths, Hackett was honored with the Aaron Judge ALL RISE Outstanding Advocate award by Aaron, Patty and the rest of the Foundation during the organization’s most recent fundraiser Gala in New York City in November of last year.

“The Gala is a wonderful celebration of all the work they are doing. They have scholarships and student initiatives,” she said. “[The award] was absolutely unexpected, I was amazed and certainly appreciative that they recognized [the book club].” 

One example of the inroads formed through Hackett’s work in the Foundation include the incorporation of virtual visits in classrooms from authors published by Penguin Books. Students get the exclusive opportunity to ask authors questions and hear authors discuss the inspiration for their book and how they tackle the writing process. The Aaron Judge ALL RISE Foundation also purchases and gives each student their own, new copy of the book. 

In addition to the book club and virtual visits, the Foundation also enhances the lives of students through their Mini-Grant program, scholarships, baseball camps, Aspiring Leaders Initiative and other programs. 

“We are just having a really good time because kids are reading,” Hackett continued. “To see what kids like about a book, what characters they like or don’t like; it is just so fun.”

For being a part of the Aaron Judge ALL RISE book club, students from all over can submit answers to questions regarding their selected, age-appropriate books online for a reward consisting of a certificate from Judge and the Foundation in October for their hard work and dedication to sharpening their reading and comprehension skills. For more information and registration with the Aaron Judge ALL RISE Foundation, please visit their website at www.aaronjudgeallrisefoundation.org.

“Here is an organization that truly believes in kids,” Hackett said. “That has been the goal from the beginning. They truly believe kids will grow, learn, be inspired and be leaders – what better organization to be a part of? That’s what education is all about.”