On March 23, Hilda Guadalupe “Lupita” M., realized a lifetime dream when she gained her American citizenship. She and her tutor, Gary Bennett, begin studying for the citizenship exam in February. The Literacy Council was instrumental in providing excellent study materials for the citizenship exam, including flash cards for the civics test and reading and...
When asked to describe her background, volunteer literacy tutor Janet Millward replies, “My background is pretty varied.” This, it turns out, is quite an understatement. “I got my degree in microbiology and worked in the biotech industry for years,” she says. Later, she drew on her “science and writing skills” as a freelance technical writer...
The Literacy Council’s 2024 Scrabble® Mania Online Auction for Literacy opens for bidding on Wednesday, May 8 through 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, May 21! Our auction opens the day of our Scrabble Mania for Literacy in person event on May 8th at Steinhard’s Brewing Company! The proceeds from this auction will support our literacy programs,...
The Literacy Council is celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Week April 21-27 this week by paying tribute to our 175+ wonderful long-time and new volunteers! Having just completed celebrating our 60th Year Anniversary YOU are critical to our nonprofit’s ability to support over 10,000 adults in our Frederick County community who struggled with functional literacy skills. Whether you are...
The Literacy Council of Frederick County’s Workplace Literacy Program formally began in 2016 and has been a game-changer, helping people employed in area hospitality-service businesses improve their English-language proficiency. Its success has been recognized with awards and grants from business and government leaders. And in January, the Council brought to fruition another goal for this...
April 2024 Dear Friends of the Literacy Council, I write to you with a heart full of gratitude and a spirit of optimism for the future. After 10 years of service, the time has come for me to retire this summer as Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Frederick County (LCFC). This decision was...
Enter into a conversation with Literacy Council volunteer tutor Hilary Pettigrew and soon you will find yourself taken by her warmth, humor, and of course, that Glaswegian accent. “I’m originally from the United Kingdom, so I always add that when I say that I’m from New Jersey.” The accent gives her away every time. After...
An expectant audience of Literacy Council adult learners, their families, event sponsors, volunteer tutors, staff and members of the Board of Directors came together for a Sixth Edition Book Launch event on February 22nd to celebrate the publication of the Literacy Council of Frederick County’s literary magazine, Reflections: Voices of English Learners. Sharon Jacko, Board...
The Literacy Council is again honored to be one of 36 nonprofit organizations participating in the Unity Campaign for Frederick County, hosted by United Way of Frederick County. The Unity Campaign supports the over one in three households in Frederick County that struggle to afford basic human necessities! The campaign is focused on funding programs directly supporting the...
When Erin Runkles was looking for another way to make good use of her skills as an English teacher in 2021, she came across the website for the Literacy Council of Frederick County. “I knew nothing about it, but I gave it a try,” and three years later, Erin continues as a volunteer with the...
