Resources

Take the word “the.” According to the Fry 100 List, which charts the 100 most common words in the English language in order of frequency, “the” is No. 1. You’ll find it about once every 20 words in written English.

Theodore “Dr. Seuss” Geisel is considered a literary genius, a timeless word savant who literally provided a pre-literacy blueprint for generations of toddlers to understand language, vocabulary development and, yes, the art of storytelling. And yet, Geisel would have been the first to tell you those wordsmith skills and an ear for the rhyme of the absurd came via a generous assist from another source. His mother, Henrietta.

A nearly $1 million gift from the California Scottish Rite Foundation is helping the University of the Pacific expand free speech-language and literacy therapy for Stockton-area children—accelerating access to care while training the next generation of clinicians.

In this interview, we share a remarkable story of transformation, resilience, and generosity. Theresa, once a child receiving speech-language therapy, is now a graduate student clinician pursuing her master's degree in speech-language pathology. She expects to graduate next year and is currently completing her clinical practicum under the mentorship of her former therapist, Rachel, at our RiteCare Childhood Language Center of San Jose.

Graduation is more than a ceremony—it’s a testament to perseverance, purpose, and community. As the academic year closes, we’re proud to celebrate a new class of graduates from our university partners at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), Cal State LA, and Fresno State.

Speech-language pathologists play a pivotal role in enabling effective communication and enhancing the quality of life for individuals...