DeeAnna Muraski’s secret spot to read. Photo provided by DeeAnna Muraski.

By Laurie Lechlitner
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — “I have always had a passion for reading, which I got from my mother” stated DeeAnna Muraski, Warsaw. “There is nothing I like to do better on a snowy, cold winter day than grab a warm quilt, a cup of steaming coffee, a good book and have my dog warming my lap.” Muraski is CEO of Operation Read Inc., previously known as Kosciusko Literacy Services. Her job is to introduce people to the joy of books.

She quickly adds the mental benefits of reading and how she wants to convey those to others. “Kids who love to read do better in school. If they struggle with reading, they will have trouble comprehending the rest of their school subjects. I want to help people of all ages enjoy and excel in reading,” she added.

“Before I took the position at Operation Read, I was an adjunct professor at Grace College, teaching economics, managerial economics, business law, intellectual property law and career institute. I enjoy helping students find their niche in life.”

Muraski was hired as Operation Read CEO in April 2022 when the previous director retired. “In the past, I had been on the board of directors; thus, I was already familiar with the programs and how the organization operated.”

A typical day for Muraski is filled with interactions with people, children and partner organizations in the community. “I love that part of the job. I get to meet all kinds of people. Our partner organizations, like Head Start, are extremely helpful, which expedites us getting books into the hands of children.”

A program the board launched this year is called “Operation Read: Reads.” “We have over 4,000 children under the age of 5 in Kosciusko County who fall within the poverty levels. A majority of those families are headed by either a single mother or single father. These single parents may have to work two or three jobs to make ends meet as they are in survival mode. They have time-poverty.”

That is where Operation Read comes in. “We pinpoint the geographic locations of these low-income families to deliver free books to them and read to these children.”

The board’s vision is to have the funding to purchase a bookmobile/mobile tutor lab. “We can travel to locations all over Kosciusko County to deliver books and read to children. We can also feature special guest readers such as Santa or the Easter Bunny. These guests will help make reading fun for the children.”

Children and parents are not the only people Operation Read targets. “We are working on the full life cycle. We provide puzzle books for senior citizens — books that continue to stimulate a person to think.”

Muraski’s passion for books resulted in her co-writing and editing a published book with her mother titled “Diamond Bait: A NorthWoods Novel.” They have two more books in the NorthWoods trilogy series they are working on.

Her other hobbies include kayaking, playing the ukulele, biking, and nature walks. Her favorite books are Alexander Dumas’ Count of Monte Cristo and the Bible. “The Bible is the greatest book with the greatest story ever told: the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ.”