Meet George Thawley
Tell us about yourself, what brought you to Coupeville?
My wife and I retired to Coupeville in 2014, after living in Irvine CA for 35 years. I retired after a career with Bank of America as a manager in the regional call center. We wanted to live in a more scenic and healthful area after selling our house in CA. My Dad was a high school principal, my Mom a speech teacher, and my brother is a teacher now. Education was and is the key to a better future, and my parents always stressed education and would have been motivated to help the less fortunate if they were aware of the need of students and youth
How are you involved with the Student Support Services for Coupeville Schools?
I have been active at St. Mary's in their Outreach program after moving to Coupeville, and two years ago volunteered to help Arianna at the school district after I saw the number of students that were McKinney Vento eligible. I became aware of this group of students from the district newsletter. Having parents from an educational background, I felt it was important to try and help our community schoolchildren initially with school supplies and toiletries, and then educational tools to help them graduate.
Why do these programs matter to you? What message would you give to other?
I felt it was important to try and help the students that are McKinney-Vento eligible, through no fault of their own, to have the tools and hopefully opportunities all other students have; to have a shot at the future, to be able to graduate from high school with good grades and hopefully go on to a secondary education while having a good self image in spite of the economic and social roadblocks in their lives now. I can't imagine being in high school, trying to do well with your classes, having friends with no permanent home while planning for your future.
I would encourage Coupeville residents to assist as best they can to help the less fortunate young people in our community.
I would encourage Coupeville residents to assist as best they can to help the less fortunate young people in our community.
How Can You Get Involved?
If you would like to support the efforts that George is most passionate about, please consider supporting the Student Support Services Fair.