The Children's Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia Welcomes Edison Valerio as 2025–2026 Board President

The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia (CRFMC) is proud to announce Edison Valerio as the new Board President for the 2025–2026 term.

A longtime Tri-Cities resident and passionate community advocate, Edison brings over 18 years of leadership experience in banking, finance, and small business development. He is the owner of State Farm, Edison Valerio Insurance Agency Inc. in Pasco and an active civic leader currently serving on the Pasco Chamber of Commerce Board and as Chairman of the Latin Business Association Foundation.

Born in the Dominican Republic and raised by a single mother in the Bronx, Edison’s personal journey is rooted in the transformative power of education and literacy. His commitment to ensuring all children have access to quality reading resources aligns closely with CRFMC’s mission to help every child learn to read and succeed in school and life.

“I believe in the transformative power of literacy to open doors and create opportunities for all.” Said Edison Valerio. “I look forward to leading our community in fostering a lifelong love of reading, expanding access to resources, and enhancing programs that support literacy development across the Mid-Columbia region.”

“Edison has been a longtime supporter of our mission,” said Leanne Purcell, Executive Director of CRFMC. “His energy, vision, and lived experience are exactly what we need as we expand our programs and deepen our impact in the Mid-Columbia region.”

In addition, the CRFMC welcomes five new Board Members to their Board of Directors: Mark Blankenship; Bechtel, Beth Booth; Insight Accounting, Dawn Sileo; Energy Northwest, Cheryl Piersall; Bectel, and Jason Vitali; Amentum.
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For more information about The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia and its initiatives, visit www.read20minutes.com.