Literacy Empowerment Campaign 2013

York County Literacy Council Announces

Michelle and Bill Shipley Honorary Co-Chairs

of the Sixth Annual Literacy Empowerment Campaign

"We are excited to partner with the York County Literacy Council to raise

awareness of the important work that is being done in efforts to greatly reduce illiteracy in our community. By working  to ensure that all individuals have access to acquiring competent reading and writing skills, our community as a whole will benefit from an improved quality of life!”

                                                                 Michelle and Bill Shipley

The York County Literacy Council is delighted to announce our friends, Michelle and Bill Shipley, as Literacy Empowerment Campaign 2013 Honorary Co-Chairs. Michelle and Bill are avid supporters of the work and the mission of York County Literacy Council (YCLC). They understand how our programs enhance the lives of our students to create a positive change for the York community.

KICK-OFF for YCLC’S 2013 Literacy Empowerment Campaign is April 1st! Our goal is to raise $50,000 to support literacy programs and to create county-wide awareness of the struggles faced by the 40,000 adults in York County who are functionally illiterate. Support of donors, tutors, and volunteers allows YCLC to provide literacy classes for native-born, English speaking adults and English as Second Language students. YCLC also recruits and trains community volunteers to provide one-to-one tutoring. In 2011-2012 YCLC served 909 unduplicated students with the help of 321volunteers who provided 12,260 hours of service. Our multiple level classes have been operating at capacity and there are long waiting lists for both tutoring and classroom services. Pre-GED classes that accommodate students who are seeking to obtain their GED for employment purposes are filled. All services are free of charge to students and are geared to empower them to become self-sufficient, employable and productive.

How Can You Help?

•  As a current donor, volunteer, tutor or student talk to your business, family, friends and neighbors about YCLC’s mission.

• You can assist in expanding our donor base by encouraging contributions of time and/or dollars. Together with your help we will increase our resources and serve the growing number of adults requesting our services.

•  With confidence in the value of adult literacy education, we ask businesses and individuals to reach beyond the economic challenges of today to support our worthy programs that improve the quality of life for individuals, families and ultimately our whole community.

Prosperity

*Literacy Issues have a direct impact on the prosperity of our community and nation

•  3 out of 4 of persons on welfare are illiterate
• without  the ability to read classified ads, complete an application or gather employment skills there seems to be no choice but to turn to welfare
• this limits the ability of those persons to spend which hurts the economy by limiting demand for products and stunting job creation

• 68% of those arrested are illiterate
• your valuable tax dollars are spent housing and caring for inmates
• inmates limited to non-existent reading skills and lost in a cycle of violence & non-productivity, will rarely be able to make a legitimate living and contribute to the success of our economy

• consider literacy as a key in our battle against the increasing cost of health care
• literacy affects an individual's ability to learn about different insurance policy options and complete an application for insurance coverage
• understanding diseases and disorders as well as reading prescription bottles requires literacy skills
• poor literacy skills results in a lack of preventative care which results in an increased occurrence of emergency care needed
• since these individuals may also lack proper insurance coverage or the ability to pay for insurance coverage, unpaid hospital bills flood the nation and the cost is passed on to other citizens

* Facts gathered from a study conducted by the Washington Literacy Council

When you support literacy programs, you not only serve to improve the success and well-being of individuals who seek assistance, you help to promote the continued economic success of America

• Epic-$5,000
• Classic-$1,000
• Scholar-$500
• Novelist-$250
• Reading Circle-$100
• Page Turner-$50
• Donations can be made "In Memory of" or "In Honor of"
• Donations support the Adult Literacy Programs of YCLC including our Pre-GED classes.
• All Gifts of any denomination are greatly appreciated!

"We are looking for investors seeking a return of 500+ on their investment....40,000 York County residents struggle with illiteracy, under literacy, and desire to be contributing members of our community, workforce, and civic organizations. The York County Literacy Council removes barriers to sucess as we build strong literacy and communication skills which unleashes the economic potential of our York County neighbors.  It is a distinct privilege and honor to accept the chairmanship of the Fifth Annual Literacy Empowerment Campaign for York Counnty Literacy Council (YCLC).  Teaching literacy, language, and communications skills may be one of the most powerful gifts we can provide to build a stronger community.  Your investment toward the $35,000 YCLC Empowerment Campaign provides a sustaining gift that multiplies in people value as we build a stronger economic engine in York County".  Please consider a gift that will reach far beyond its original value by participating in the Fifth Annual Literacy Empowerment Campaign.

                                Russ Bedell, Manager of Communications & Community Relations

                        of Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania and Maryland presents check

                       to Bobbi Anne DeLeo, Executive Director of YCLC to sponsor books

                       for the  Buck A Book Reading Program 2013!

 

www.harley-davidson.com

Funds support ESL and Adult Literacy Reading Program

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