Support the Literacy Center
Help provide a permanent home for LITERACY
in Palm Beach County
Twenty-two years ago I had the privilege of helping found the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition. Our goal was to coordinate services of the many literacy programs in the area and bring attention to the importance of literacy in our society. Since 1989, the Coalition has grown from a small all-volunteer board of directors with no staff into a well-run, respected organization with 49 dedicated, talented employees and 40 AmeriCorps members who have a passion for literacy. More important, the Coalition has developed needed literacy programs that help more than 35,000 children, youth and adults at 110 sites gain the skills they need to succeed as students, parents and employees.
The creation of a Literacy Center will allow the Coalition to expand its services by giving space for training of volunteer tutors, home visitors, reading partners and AmeriCorps members. It will also create space for an after-school tutoring program for kids at risk. Because of the opportunity to expand these important services to meet growing needs, I am honored and excited to serve as Campaign Chair to lead this effort to establish a permanent home for literacy.
I invite you to join me in making the Literacy Center a reality.
--Gale G. Howden
As the only facility of its kind in Palm Beach County, the Literacy Center for Education, Training and Outreach will make possible:
Expanded training opportunities
In collaboration with more than 150 program partners, the Literacy Coalition will be able to conduct on-going training to ensure that services are being provided according to the best practices in the field. The Literacy Center will be able to host training for AmeriCorps members, volunteer tutors, reading partners and literacy providers. A resource library will be created for those who want to learn about the latest literacy research. Through its extensive connections with regional and national experts, the Literacy Coalition is uniquely qualified to provide these services to the community.
On-site assistance for children who need help with their homework
For many years, the Coalition has received calls from desperate parents seeking help for their children who are failing and need individual help. There have been few place to refer these families. The Literacy Center for Education, Training and Outreach will be able to provide this service at no charge by using the skills of community volunteers who have great talents to share, but have lacked a place to connect with the children who need their help.
Expanded opportunities for Adult Learners
The Literacy Coalition will also be able to match volunteer tutors who complete the Coalition’s tutor training course with the adults who call the Literacy Hotline. One-to-one tutoring provided in a safe, supportive environment will expand the opportunities for adults who are working to improve their skills – and their lives.
Increased capacity to sustain established programs and develop new ones
As needs are identified, opportunities will be explored and solutions implemented. The Literacy Coalition has a record of success in addressing the literacy needs of the residents and is the logical agency to expand its services as the demographics of Palm Beach County continue to evolve.
The Opportunity
In order to provide more adequate and efficient space for the Literacy Coalition’s current operations as well as increased services for the public and to address future needs, the Coalition plans to establish a permanent home for literacy. As the only facility of its kind in Palm Beach County, the new 12,000 sq.ft. Literacy Center for Education, Training and Outreach will be built in a highly visible and easily accessible location in mid-county. The project, from design through permitting and construction, is projected to take approximately 13 months.
Through the generosity of a very gracious literacy supporter, $1.8 million has been donated to seed the project. To reach our goal of $3.5 million, gifts both large and small will be needed and can be pledged over three years. To contribute to the Literacy Center Capital Campaign or to meet with a Coalition representative to discuss your donation and naming opportunites please click here or contact: Darlene Kostrub, Chief Executive Officer, (561) 279-9103.
The Leadership Team
Laurie L. Gildan
Building Committee Chair
Former President
Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County
Gale G. Howden
Capital Campaign Chair
Founding President
Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County
Capital Campaign Committee Members
Sara Jo Kobacker
Danielle H. Moore
Geoff and Elizabeth Neuhoff
Literacy Coalition Officers
Maggie Dickenson, President
Robert Patterson, Vice President
Joan Williams, Vice President
Phil DiComo, Secretary
Lisa Koza, Treasurer
Susan Rabinowitz, Parliamentarian
facebook