Bill Cook Foundation lecture launches the 26th year of DEAR Thursday lunch and lecture programs with a focus on global education and empowerment

Penfield, New York – The Daytime Education at Recreation (DEAR) program is preparing to open its doors once again for another year of learning, conversation, and community. Now entering its 26th season, the popular Thursday lunch and lecture series will begin on September 18 with guest speaker Professor Bill Cook, who will deliver a presentation titled The Bill Cook Foundation: Empowering through Education — Lessons from Sudan and Other Challenged Communities.

Cook is no stranger to the DEAR audience. Many participants will remember him from his highly regarded Great Course lectures on medieval cathedrals and the world’s most beautiful churches. Known for his lively delivery, deep knowledge, and ability to connect history to the present, Cook has built a strong reputation among lifelong learners in the community.

This year, however, Cook’s presentation will highlight not European architecture or Renaissance history but his work with the nonprofit he founded in 2015. The Bill Cook Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3), was created with a single mission: to expand educational opportunities for children in some of the world’s poorest and most underserved regions. The foundation has supported tuition, supplied basic learning materials, and in many cases helped build schools or strengthen local institutions so that students can have a pathway from basic literacy to higher education.

Read also: Pittsford announces fireworks courtesy notifications for Saturday September 13 following the Food Truck and Music Fest

Cook’s passion for education stems from a long academic career. He began teaching at SUNY Geneseo in 1970 as an assistant professor of history. Over time, he rose to the rank of full professor and earned recognition as a Distinguished Teaching Professor in 1984. Though he retired in 2012 with emeritus status, Cook has remained active in writing, traveling, public speaking, and now in championing the foundation that bears his name.

The upcoming lecture promises to offer not only statistics and descriptions of educational projects abroad but also real lessons from communities facing extreme poverty, conflict, and lack of resources. By sharing what he has witnessed in Sudan and other regions, Cook hopes to demonstrate how access to education can transform both individual lives and entire communities.

Read also: Monroe County Department of Public Health reports a 43 percent drop in overdose deaths in 2024 marking the lowest total since 2020

The DEAR program itself has become a staple for those in the area who value learning in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Each Thursday session combines an optional meal with an opportunity to hear from engaging speakers on a wide range of topics. For the kickoff event, lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m. at a cost of $8, with reservations required in advance online. The lecture, which begins at 12:30 p.m., is free and open to the public, though advance registration is necessary for all attendees. Lunch is not required to attend.

By beginning its 26th season with a speaker who blends academic achievement with global humanitarian work, DEAR sets the stage for another year of meaningful conversations. Bill Cook’s lecture offers a reminder that education is not simply about knowledge of the past but also about creating hope and opportunity for the future.