MISSION: TO PROMOTE LITERACY BY TEACHING LOW-LEVEL & NON-READING ADULTS BASIC LITERACY SKILLS USING TRAINED TUTORS, AND BY GENERATING COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND SUPPORT.

 

BACKGROUND: The Literacy Council was founded by the late Jean Sullivan in 1985 as a non-profit, “grass-roots” organization dedicated to teaching adults with low-level or no reading skills. Original operations were conducted at Citizen’s Library, then at several other locations in Washington including the First Baptist Church. In May of 2003, the Council returned to it’s “roots” at the Library, where it has established a permanent, more accessible and available office.

WCLC is only one of two organizations in Washington County that offers one-on-one literacy tutoring to adults reading below a 4th grade level.

 

SUPPORT: WCLC is supported entirely by fundraising, individual donations, corporate contributions, and foundation grants. WCLC operates on a budget less than $37,000/year. A Board of Directors and an Executive Director are responsible for day-to-day operations.

 

MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS 2002-2003: Alpha Beta Gamma, Alpha Delta Kappa, ANSYS Inc., Atlas Railroad Construction, Coen Family Foundation, A.C. Dellovade, Inc., Drakenfield Fair Share Fund, Laboratory Presbyterian Church, Lighthouse Electric, the Observer-Reporter Publishing Company, Sam’s Club Foundation, South Fayette Township School District, Tomsic Oldsmobile, WalMart Foundation, Washington County Bar Association, Washington County Community Foundation, Washington Federal Savings Bank, Washington Rotary Club, and ZONTA.

 

WCLC IS A VITAL ORGANIZATION. . .

·          23 WORKING TUTOR/STUDENT MATCHES throughout the County; using the Laubach Each-One-Teach One Phonic method

·          15 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS who make our continued success a reality

·          TUTOR TRAINING at least 4 times per year

 

WCLC IS AN ACTIVE FORCE IN THE COMMUNITY. . .

·          PROMOTING READING TO YOUR BABY FROM BIRTH through the Baby Book Bag Program through which 90-100 Baby Book Bags (BBBs) are distributed to new mothers at the Washington Hospital

·          PROVIDING SUMMER READING PROGRAMS to children and young adults within the WIC (Women, Infants & Children), ARC, and Neighborhood Drug Awareness Corps programs

·          DISTRIBUTING magazine and books to neighborhood food pantries and social service agencies

·          PARTICIPATING in literacy-related focus groups and community awareness events

·          SERVING as a resource center for literacy issues and statistics

·          ENFORCING the message of reading to children by providing informational literature and children’s books to reading centers at Avis Arbor and Interfaith Hospitality Network

·          COMMUNICATING the message of literacy awareness by providing discussions to local organizations

·          ACTING as an organization of hope for men and women within the Washington County Criminal Justice System

55 SOUTH COLLEGE STREET—WASHINGTON, PA 15301

724.228.6188