OUR COMMITMENT TO

Childhood Literacy

Advancing Childhood Literacy

A child’s ability to read at grade level is an important predictor of future success. But did you know that by fourth grade, 67% of America’s children do not read at the proficient level? (The Nation’s Report Card from The National Assessment of Education Progress) This is a key reason why our team at EspriGas is committed to improving childhood literacy. Through our EspriGas Ambassador Program, employees encourage reading in second-grade students.

We take a unique approach to literacy, creating an exciting and fun learning experience by focusing on the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.

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Book 1

A Girl Named Matter

Book 1

A Girl Named Matter

Meet ‘A Girl Named Matter’

‘A Girl Named Matter’ is a new book series that introduces young readers to the basics of matter through the eyes of a young scientist. Follow Matter as she journeys around the world to experience the three states of matter — solid, liquid, and gas — and learn how the world around her changes the shape she’s in.

The first book in the series, created by Mike Walsh, Celeste Gay, and Will Rackley III, is now available on Amazon. Proceeds from book sales will be donated to two child literacy centers in Atlanta, GA, and College Station, TX.

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About the Creators

Mike Walsh

Author

Mike Walsh is the CEO of EspriGas. He is very active in mentoring student athletes and an advocate for children’s literacy, made clear in creating the EspriGas Ambassador Program and part author of ‘A Girl Named Matter.’ Mike also serves on the Advisory Board of the College of Engineering at Lehigh University.

Celeste Gay

Author

Celeste Gay is a self-published author. She graduated from Tennessee State University (Cum Laude) with a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication and Theater and earned her MBA in Marketing from Colorado Technical University while pursuing a career in Journalism.

Will Rackley III

Illustrator

Will Rackley III is a former NFL player who loves art and giving back to his community. He has been drawing, painting, and graphic designing for most of his life and plans to continue encouraging young artists to find joy in creativity. This, and a connection with Mike through Lehigh University, led to Will being the illustrator and one of the creators of ‘A Girl Named Matter.’