Annual Report The Literacy Council of Reading-Berks Board of Directors would not be celebrating 47 years Robert Libutti, President Josephine Bondonese of success without the dedication Retired, UGI Energy Services Boscov’s Department Store and commitment of our amazing Jason Brudereck, Vice President Bridget Cambria, Esq. 2015 volunteers, generous donors, and Berks County Community Foundation Partner, Cambria & Kline, P.C. hard-working adult learners. Ronald J. Hunsicker, Secretary Janet Clemmer Engineer Retired Registered Nurse Cheryl Kulp, Treasurer Hector Delgado Goodwill Keystone Area Student Representative Emily L. Hershey Wilson School District Dr. Cassandra Hillegass Central Penn College Jacquelyn M. Kline, Esq. Partner, Cambria & Kline, P.C. Pat Snyder C. Malcolm Smith, CPA Literacy Council of Reading-Berks www.lcrb.org Literacy Council of Reading-Berks Call: 610.670.9960 Literacy 35 South Dwight Street Fax: 610.927.4876 West Lawn, PA 19609 Email: [email protected] Council Literacy of Reading-Berks Council of Reading-Berks Literacy Council of Reading-Berks A Message from the Executive Director The Literacy Council by the Numbers Dear Friends, Low wages THANK YOU! We are grateful for your support in 2015. With your help, we 20% of Americans read Mission: below the level needed continued to expand programming and partnerships throughout the community The mission of the Literacy Council to help meet the needs of adult learners and their families. We are changing lives of Reading-Berks is to help people to earn a living wage every day. better communicate, collaborate and contribute to their workplace With this annual report, the Literacy Council of Reading-Berks is pleased to share and community. our work and the people, programs and partners that contributed to another year of addressing literacy in Berks County. The Literacy Council helped over 600 Vision: adult learners from many different countries achieve job and college readiness To eradicate illiteracy in Berks County skills, financial independence, good health and greater involvement in our by teaching people the vital reading, community. Over 70 volunteers helped as trained literacy tutors, class instructors writing, speaking, listening and and board members. Our major language skills needed to improve their quality of life and enable fundraiser, Readers WIN!, was a more productive employment and The Literacy Council great success—earning the most Low community citizenship. helped over 600 adult money ever in its history! literacy Poor healthcare means Approximately 50% of Americans learners, representing many Collaborations with organizations Values and Goals: such as Reading Area Community read so poorly that they are unable different countries Respect for all College, the Literacy Coalition to perform simple tasks such as of Central Texas, the Reading Public Empower volunteers and staff reading prescription drug labels Library, Trinity Lutheran Church and the Muhlenberg Community Library allowed us to to provide quality services continue to spread our important message. Provide a spectrum of literacy services Council staff presented at the annual Pennsylvania Association for Adult Continuing Higher crime rates Education (PAACE) Conference as well as the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Develop curricula to respond to Penal institution records show that Association’s Annual Employment, Training and Education Conference. the changing literacy needs of inmates have a 16% chance of returning the community to prison if they receive literacy help, as We enthusiastically enter 2016 with plans to improve our website to showcase adult opposed to 70% who receive no help learners, volunteer tutors and life-changing programs. We also are excited to position Implement innovative technology and techniques ourselves as the “English as a Second Language experts” in Berks County through our United Way of Berks County and Wyomissing Foundation-sponsored English Forward Network to identify resources Program. This will allow us to continue to build our capacity to serve adults and families and partnerships with literacy needs while making an impact in Berks County. Guide all participants in In 2015 we provided the following services: 2015 Financial Report achieving their goals We hope that you will read this report with the same pride One-on-One Tutoring: 136 students; 4,117 hours of tutoring that we have in reflecting on the creative and forward- Revenue: $443,153.85 ELA1 Classes: 328 students; 11,433 hours of class thinking ways in which our staff and board of directors Contributions and Gifts: $89,828.85 2 approach literacy in Berks County. We invite you to take HEP Classes: 294 students; 9,861 hours of class Fee-for-Service Programs: $37,489.18 a moment to learn more about the Literacy Council’s Citizenship Preparation Classes: 74 students; 888 hours Federal, State and United Way Grants: $315,835.82 accomplishments, programs, learners and volunteers by Tutor Volunteers: 66; 23,046 volunteer hours visiting our website and/or joining us at an event! Non-tutor Volunteers: 16; 538 volunteer hours Expenses: $404,359.80 Literacy Program Services: $272,461.92 Ryan A. Breisch Management and General: $116,929.66 Fundraising: $14,968.22 Executive Director 1ELA – English Language Acquisition 2HEP – High School Equivalency Program Success in a New Country Entering College and Careers In Berks County, and especially Reading, one of the greatest One-on-One tutoring at the Literacy Council has many needs is English-language instruction. In 2015, the Literacy different needs and structures. While students are Council began impacting that need in a unique way by starting usually working towards a long-term goal, sometimes the English Forward program. The program was introduced to there is an immediate need and a very short timeline us by the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas in December 2014. to complete the educational training. K.M. is currently employed in the healthcare field as a Certified Nursing English Forward includes training for instructors and a Assistant. She scheduled her test for entrance to begin curriculum designed specifically for community-based LPN training to advance her position and employment organizations. Our vision is to equip community members possibilities. She is a single 32-year-old mother with and organizations to start their own English-language classes. four children. She was matched with a tutor; the new Many individuals who need language instruction may feel pair only had a little over two weeks to study for the uncomfortable going to an unfamiliar place and taking a entrance exam (TEAS). The student and her tutor long test to join a class. This program will allow for classes in decided that grammar and reading comprehension neighborhoods where individuals can feel comfortable and should be her areas of focus for the exam. They meet in places where they would be more likely to attend. for an average of four hours a week and the student The Literacy Council held four English Forward trainings in feels much more confident in her abilities now. The 2015, reaching over 40 participants. As a result, new English student takes her lessons very seriously, and the tutor classes began at the Mother Veronica Resource Center, shared with me that the student is very appreciative Many Rivers Learning Center and Goodwill Shillington. of the time they spend together. This student is very Through the training and follow-up communication, we motivated and puts her studies first in her very busy were able to support these new classes with guidance, life. We are sure all of the hard work the student is materials, students and much more. Additionally, we had putting in will pay off! the opportunity to support and improve several existing programs in the city. Through the trainings, we also equipped over ten new volunteers who were sent to various programs to help with instruction. Readers WIN! We look forward to impacting the community even School Participants more in 2016! The Readers WIN! Campaign is our largest fundraiser and has been in existence since 1994. It is a read-a- thon in which Berks County school students are invited A Brighter Future for Children to participate and win prizes. They raise $1 for every book, magazine, or newspaper article they read. While we stand on our record as a top adult educator, 13th & Union Elementary Penn-Bernville Elementary we’ve always known that the outcome of our work Bethel Elementary Perry Elementary improves children’s lives. We decided to make a stronger commitment to children’s programs, so Gov. Mifflin Intermediate Reiffton Elementary we’ve partnered with the Greater Jacksonwald Elementary Riverside Elementary Reading Cops ‘n’ Kids Program, Lorane Elementary Schuylkill Valley Elementary which collects books to Oley Valley Elementary Tilden Elementary provide a minimum of one Owatin Creek Elementary Tyson – Schoener Elementary book per child throughout the school districts located in the Greater Reading area and other organizations. We look forward to growing this partnership and serving even more Reading-area children and schools. The following organizations and individuals made our programs possible in 2015. Donations received between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015 are recognized here. Every effort has 2015 been made to list donors and volunteers accurately. Please inform the office of any corrections CONTRIBUTORS at 610.670.9960. PRINCIPLE FUNDERS In Memory of Mrs. Mildred Mr. and Mrs. Paul S. Rittenhouse Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan F. Meter IN-KIND DONATIONS RECOGNITION OF OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS Schlageter Pennsylvania Department of Education Mr. and Mrs. David W. Rohrbach Ms. Brenda N. Meyers Anthony’s Trattoria Mr. and Mrs. David J. Svenson – Division of Adult Literacy (through Mrs. Gloria Moser Applebee’s Reading Area Community College) Dr. and Mrs. W. David Rule Ms. Lynne M. Murray In Memory of the Son of Austin’s Lisa Adams Sandie Evans Carol Lauer United Way of Berks County Sharon and Julian Syret Ms. Eugenia Sowicz Mr. and Mrs. James Murry Berks County Community Foundation Joan Baldino Nancy Everson Robert Libutti Dr.