Ypsilanti, Michigan, 2012 – Washtenaw Literacy announced plans to celebrate National Volunteer Week, a time dedicated to demonstrating to the nation that by working together, we have the fortitude to meet our challenges and accomplish our goals. National Volunteer Week, April 15-21, is about taking action and encouraging individuals and their respective communities to be at the center of social change – discovering and actively demonstrating their collective power to foster positive transformation.
Last year Washtenaw Literacy volunteers logged 73,900 hours of service to the community. Of the 891 volunteers donating time and talent to adult literacy, 721 of those were involved directly with adult literacy learners. Other volunteers include those serving on the Board or on Board Committees or helping with our major events such as the annual World in a Basket benefit gala. When surveyed, 99% of the agency’s volunteers would recommend Washtenaw Literacy.
Throughout the week of April 15 to 21, the efforts of volunteers will be highlighted through interviews and profiles posted on Washtenaw Literacy’s Facebook page and among the agency’s volunteer family. All volunteers will be entered into a raffle to win daily theme baskets.
Executive Director Amy Goodman stated, “Because of our volunteer-driven tutoring programs, every dollar donated to Washtenaw Literacy multiplies nearly four times over in the value of the direct services returned to the community. This adds up to an enormous impact on the critical challenge of adult illiteracy in Washtenaw County.”
During the coming year there will be many opportunities to get involved in this goal to end illiteracy. These events include a variety of training events, Support Literacy Now in May, World in a Basket 2012 in October, and much more. There are many ways to help…tutoring, financial contributions, committee work, corporate sponsorships, and in-kind support. It will take all of this and more to help end adult illiteracy in Washtenaw County.
To explore how you can join the fight against illiteracy, please go to http://www.washtenawliteracy.org.
About Washtenaw Literacy
Washtenaw Literacy’s purpose is straightforward: we help adults change their lives through literacy. Since 1971 our organization has been devoted to helping men and women improve their reading, writing and English- as- a- Second- Language skills.
Our core program is one-on-one tutoring. This is the approach our first volunteer tutors used in 1971. The reason we still use it today is because it works. Over 90% of adults in our one-on-one tutoring program reach one or more of their goals. Part of this success stems from our “designer tutor” approach. We train each of our volunteer tutors to plan lessons according to the learner’s strengths, needs and goals. Adult learners in our program are motivated because they are setting, and meeting, their own standards for success.
This focus on individual goals makes our program unique in the county. Washtenaw Literacy is a critical part of our community’s educational continuum. Someday we hope to have no need for our services. Until then, we’ll support our volunteer tutors as they help low-literate men and women improve their skills and their lives.
About the Points of Light Foundation
National Volunteer Week is sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation. The annual recognition week was established in 1974 and has grown exponentially each subsequent year, with literally thousands of volunteer projects and special events scheduled throughout the week. With the third year anniversary of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the creation of the Volunteer Generation Fund and the resonant call to serve from the President, this year will be even more energizing and inspiring.
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