Logo Homeschool World ® Official Web Site of Practical Homeschooling Magazine Practical Homeschooling Magazine
Practical Homeschooling® :

Homeschooler Donates $50,000 of Books to His Local Library

By PHS Staff
Printed in Practical Homeschooling #50, 2002.

Jason Orr won a boatload of books. See what he does with them next!
   Pin It


Jason is honored by the Bedford, TX, City Council
Homeschoolers love the library. Now, Bedford Public Library of Bedford, TX, has reason to love homeschoolers back.

Back in May Jason Orr entered a national essay contest sponsored by Universal Studios and Houghton-Mifflin publishers using an entry form published with the movie Balto II. The theme of the paper was “What does it Mean to be a Hero” and could be no longer than 150 words.

Jason’s mom tells it this way, “Jason wrote and re-wrote about five times. A few days before the deadline, he mailed in the entry form. After several weeks of checking the mailbox, he asked when he would hear back. He didn’t forget about the contest. One day we received a call from California telling us he had won Grand Prize.”

What did he win?

  • $50,000 worth of books from Houghton-Mifflin publishers
  • A trip for four to Orlando or Hollywood including airfare, hotel, and theme park tickets
  • His essay printed in a local newspaper.

Jason chose a family friend and former resident of Bedford, Robert Sawyer, as the subject of his essay. Sawyer had gone to Mexico City 17 years ago after an earthquake there. He saw children sleeping outside and was moved to found an orphanage, Hogar de Amor y Protección al Niño. His orphanage now houses more than 100 children.

Jason has become a hero, himself! He was interviewed on a local television station. Later, when he visited the library because he was curious to see what $50,000 worth of books looked like, he was given a rousing welcome. That evening he was honored at a Bedford city council meeting.

Free Email Newsletter!
Sign up to receive our free email newsletter, and up to three special offers from homeschool providers every week.

Popular Articles

What Does My Preschooler Need to Know?

A Homeschooler Wins the Heisman

Interview with John Taylor Gatto

How to "Bee" a Spelling Success

Narration Beats Tests

Character Matters for Kids

Art Appreciation the Charlotte Mason Way

Give Yourself a "CLEP Scholarship"

The Gift of a Mentor

Teach Your Children to Work

University Model Schools

The Benefits of Debate

Can Homeschoolers Participate In Public School Programs?

Critical Thinking and Logic

Joyce Swann's Homeschool Tips

How to Win the Geography Bee

Montessori Language Arts at Home, Part 1

Montessori Math

Advanced Math: Trig, PreCalc, and more!

Combining Work and Homeschool

Who Needs the Prom?

I Was an Accelerated Child

Classical Education

Why the Internet will Never Replace Books

The Charlotte Mason Method

Getting Organized Part 1 - Tips & Tricks

Teaching Blends

Getting Started in Homeschooling: The First Ten Steps

A Reason for Reading

Bears in the House

The History of Public Education

Getting Organized Part 3

AP Courses At Home

Don't Give Up on Your Late Bloomers

Discover Your Child's Learning Style

The Charlotte Mason Approach to Poetry

Phonics the Montessori Way

Patriarchy, Meet Matriarchy

What We Can Learn from the Homeschooled 2002 National Geography Bee Winners

Shakespeare Camp

Start a Nature Notebook

Top Tips for Teaching Toddlers

Columbus and the Flat Earth...

Myth of the Teenager

Whole-Language Boondoggle

Saxon Math: Facts vs. Rumors

The Benefits of Cursive Writing

Laptop Homeschool

Top Jobs for the College Graduate

The Equal Sign - Symbol, Name, Meaning

          
Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
Copyright ©1993-2025 Home Life, Inc.