By Leslie Fuentes
Public Communications
Every student at Jack Fields Elementary recently received the gift of a new book, thanks to Chase’s Chapters, a local non-profit dedicated to fostering a love of reading.
Chase’s Chapters was created in 2023 by Stacey and Derek DeLarios, in memory of their son, Chase, who tragically passed away in a car accident at the age of eight. With the help of Andrea Butler, Chase’s first-grade teacher, the DeLarios family turned their loss into a mission to inspire young readers.
“Chase didn’t really like school at first, but he flourished when he started reading,” Stacey DeLarios, who serves as the organization’s president, said. “It changed him.”
The nonprofit raises funds to purchase new books. They then visit Title I elementary schools across the Houston area to host free book fairs, giving students of all grade levels the opportunity to select their own brand-new book from a wide variety of genres, authors, and reading levels.
“We’re passionate about giving students choices,” Stacey said. “We want every child to leave with a book they’re excited about—a book they personally picked out for themselves.”
During their recent visit to Jack Fields Elementary, Stacey spoke to students about how much Chase loved to read and encouraged them to explore the magic of books instead of relying solely on electronic devices for entertainment.
The organization also encourages Spanish-speaking students to read by offering a selection of Spanish-language books.
“It was so exciting to see our students exposed to more books and literature,” Kelly Gerga, Library Media Specialist at Jack Fields Elementary, said. “As a librarian, it can be especially challenging to find hardcover books in Spanish, so the fact that they brought so many is incredibly meaningful to our kids.”
Since its founding, Chase’s Chapters has donated nearly 7,000 books to schools in New Caney and Humble ISD. The initiative began in New Caney ISD, where Chase attended school, but has since expanded to Humble ISD after the family relocated to the area. In addition to their recent book fairs at Lakeland and Jack Fields Elementary, the organization plans to visit North Bend Elementary in February.
“We’re here to encourage reading,” Stacey said. “We know it’s a critical life skill, and we’ve seen how improving reading abilities can boost students’ self-confidence and open doors for them.”
Looking ahead, Chase’s Chapters aims to partner with even more Humble ISD campuses, expand to additional school districts in the Houston area, and launch a free summer reading program to keep students engaged with books year-round.