classmates. allen martin introduces us to this week's jefferson award recipient. >> reporter: randy roth couldn't believe that 60% of oakland third graders were >> they are kids at promise. >> reporter: so 15 years ago he gave up being a full-time pastor and established faith network of the east bay. >> we do not provide religious services. but we provide services. >> reporter: those services now reach into 36 east bay schools, mostly in oakland. a key program is "succeeding by reading,: 300 volunteer tutors spending an hour a week working one-on-one with second graders focusing on reading and comprehension. >> it's one thing to read a word on a page. it's another thing to carve a pumpkin so now what pulp really -- it's another thing to carve a pumpkin so you know what pulp really means. >> reporter: carolyn piraino has worked with randy since the beginning. >> many children hate reading. it's so hard for them. they just don't want to do it, even the simplest books.