Literacy champions to be honored
Nov. 14Delcotimes: 11.07.2013 by Phil Heron
Chester Mayor John Linder realized the challenges of being an adult student when he returned to college at the age of 23.
Phil Heron, editor of the Delaware County Daily Times, started thinking more deeply about adult literacy when he participated in the Literacy Council’s open house last year.
“I was there and able to speak to people from all walks of life who were working towards their GED or improving their English,” said Heron.
Dr. Timothy Witmer, Senior Pastor of Crossroads Community Church, saw his congregation and the surrounding Upper Darby community become so diverse that he spearheaded several programs to reach out to local immigrants.
All three have taken positive steps to promote adult literacy in Delaware County, and all three will be honored at Delaware County Literacy Council’s “Champions of Adult Literacy” Awards Reception and Fundraiser 6:30-8 p.m.Thursday, Nov. 14at Harrah’s Casino in Chester.
The event will include adult students sharing their success stories, an awards ceremony to honor the champions, hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and a ticket auction with several locally donated prizes. Available for ticket “bids” will be gift baskets, Flyers tickets, Phillies tickets, iTunes gift cards, Franklin Fountain gift certificates, an overnight stay at Purcell Darrell House, and more. Attendees also will have opportunities to become personal “Champions of Adult Literacy.”
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Changing lives with literacy:
Cayuga County volunteer group celebrates 50 years
The members of Literacy Volunteers of Cayuga County don't just teach reading and writing.
They teach survival skills.
Since 1963, thousands of residents across the county have benefited from the services offered by the group dedicated to teaching adults how to read. On Nov. 13, the organization will graduate yet another class of students and celebrate its 50th anniversary of service to the area.
One of the oldest literacy groups in the country, Literacy Volunteers of Cayuga County was founded five decades ago by Pauline and Cyril Foster. The chapter stems from Literacy Volunteers of America, the national organization founded in Syracuse a few years before. Today, a group that started with just these two individuals now has more than 100 volunteers who serve hundreds of students each year.
"Our goal is to improve lives through literacy," said Elisa Carabajal Hunt, executive director of the Cayuga County organization. "The students we deal with are adults who just haven't been successful in traditional school and are now realizing their lack of reading skills are hindering them." READ MORE !
Fighting illiteracy: For woman,
reward is in seeing others get help learning to readNews OK: 11.03.2013 by Bryan Painter
Leslie Gelders' mother made a suggestion back in 1985.
Gelders listened.
“I was looking for a volunteer opportunity,” Gelders said. “My mother was a librarian, and she suggested I become a tutor and help an adult learn to read. I went through the training course and began volunteering with the Norman Literacy Council.
“I found working one-on-one with a student to be rewarding, and I became very interested in the problem of illiteracy and its impact on society.”
Today, Gelders is the director of the Literacy Resources Office at the state Department of Libraries. In that department, she has been involved with the fight against illiteracy in a professional and volunteer capacity since 1987.
“Leslie's creative, and she's not afraid to try new ideas,” said Bill Young, public information manager for the state Department of Libraries. “She has a proven track record, and her enthusiasm is infectious. I think that's why local literacy councils have been willing to embrace many of the new efforts and initiatives that the Oklahoma Department of Libraries has started.”
Gelders grew up a reader in a reading family. She was surrounded by books.
So she was really unaware of the issue of illiteracy until she began her volunteer work. READ MORE !
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