Reading and Books Literacy
What We Do | Leadership | Get Involved
Jen Philhower, Operations 

Jen found a love of books when she was young, toting Charlotte's Web around with her like a security blanket, and never grew out of it.  Luckily, she had a houseful of books growing up in New Jersey, with a shelf of Reader's Digest Condensed books, and another of National Geographic magazines along with storybooks and atlases and more.   

She went to college at MIT, and followed up with work in a cancer research lab at MD Anderson in Smithville, and Parkinson's research at UT Austin.  After several years as a stay-at-home parent, she now works as an office manager and homeschools two of her three children.  She found a path to volunteering in the community through The High Road on Dawson, an Austin non-profit that helps many local groups provide help to people living in central Texas. 

When she and friend, Monica Keller, discovered their mutual love of Dolly Parton they decided to throw a party.  Since they were throwing a party, they decided to make it a fundraiser, and discovered Dolly's own charitable force for good, the Imagination Library. Things snowballed from there! Jen is happy to be a part of R&B Literacy, and hopes to grow until every kid in Central Texas gets their very own home library.

Monica Keller, Fundraising
Monica is one of the founding members of R&B Literacy. She moved from Houston to Austin in 1989, to dig live music, hang-out in honky-tonks, and to attend the University of Texas. She is a Clinical Social Worker that houses homeless veterans. Monica lives with her talented drummer husband, funny and musical son, and three sweet dogs that are bed hogs. Monica enjoys reading, going out to hear music, and is a lover of all things vintage. She believes strongly in the mission of giving books, as well as teaching philanthropy. Monica credits reading with her family nightly, for creating a strong family bond and respite for the adults from the always looming to-do list.  


Lindsey Taucher, Volunteer Coordinator 

Lindsey Taucher, MA, LPC, studied at St. Edward’s University and The George Washington University. She has worked since the late 1990s in both mental health and higher education. Her volunteer activities have focused on equity, wellness, education, and access to services for the young and elderly. Lindsey enjoys reading, training for sprint triathlons, movies, live music, and time with her family and friends. She joined R & B literacy in 2021 due to her passion for Dolly and getting books into kiddos’ hands.


Caroline Gnagy, Outreach Coordinator 

Caroline Gnagy is a longtime Austinite, clinical research professional, author and musician. Originally from Lawrence, Kansas, Caroline taught herself to read at age three. She was so excited at the world of reading that at age six, she taught her younger brother to read at three as well. Ever since then, she’s been dedicated to promoting reading and literacy in readers of all ages. Caroline is the Outreach Coordinator for R&B Literacy and looks forward to spreading her passion for reading and books to Austin communities and beyond.