Reading News for Charity

It started as an effort to make volunteer hours for his confirmation. Since then, 16-year-old Trumbull resident Michael Touri has logged 300 volunteer hours and counting reading for Radio.

Every Monday night, from a little studio in , Touri's voice hits the ears of the visually impaired through the Connecticut Radio Information System (CRIS). He reads everything, from sports and news to the comics and the ads.

"Reading articles is fun for me," said Touri, seated in the studio recently.

At first, CRIS had a novel appeal as a volunteer opportunity. "I didn't want to do something that everybody does," he said. He sat in with a friend and was hooked.

"For me, it's definitely inspirational," Touri said. In addition to completed many more volunteer hours than he needed to graduate, Touri has been to the governor's mansion and met his listeners, who recognize his voice.

"They thank me. It's really fun," Touri said, adding, "This has helped me so much with my public speaking."

The junior is an artist, musician and loves graphic design. He's not sure what he wants to do but has a lot of options. He's thinking about majoring in psychology in college.

He plays on the drumline in the Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band and plays guitar on the side, in addition to working at part-time as a student counselor. He makes his own music and plays others too.

"I don't have a lot of free time," Touri said.

Touri and his family came from Port Chester, N.Y., where his father was a police officer. They moved here in 2004.

"We liked it compared to Port Chester. The schools are wonderful," said Tom Touri, the teen's father.

Both his parents and radio officials agree Touri has become more confident since he started reading.

"Before radio, I was shy. This has definitely helped me with that," the teen said.

Kathleen Miranti, assistant Republican Registrar of Voters, had a career in radio before volunteering as a reader 15 years ago. She still reads and now recruits and trains volunteers. There are more than two dozen volunteers who read.

"He was just a scared little kid. Now he's a man," she said. "I like the way he reads. I encourage people not to put on a radio voice. The listeners like to hear young voices," she said.

"They have a different view," she added.

She's gotten good at recruiting. "My selling point is, you have your own radio show."

Kathy Galloway is the morning recruiter, and said it's important not to adopt a persona for the show.

"Hardly any of us are Barbara Walters," she said. "Many people just like to read and some like to read aloud."

Those interested in volunteering can call Miranti at 203-452-1574.