Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Cyndi – Sharing the Legacy of Literacy

We are so grateful for each of our volunteers. If it were not for their tireless work, we could not successfully do the work that we do.  One of those volunteers is Cyndi McNamara. Cyndi recently joined as a volunteer tutor in memory of her father, Gene Beall, a long-time tutor. Her own commitment to community service comes from a long legacy of helping others which she learned from her father.

In November, the Literacy Council held its annual Celebration of Achievements event, honoring the accomplishments of adult learners who participated in the tutoring and class programs the past year.  The guest speaker was Martha Ruiz, one of Gene’s students, who spoke of his impact on her family’s life, and the 24-year relationship between the two families that grew from Gene’s weekly tutoring with Martha and her husband.  “We cannot tell our story … without talking about Mr. Beall,” Martha Ruiz said. “Because he became … like an angel, is how we always describe him, like the angel that is being put into your life to guide you.”

Their legacy of literacy story “Man leaves behind legacy of literacy; student and daughter keep paying it forward” was recently featured in The Frederick News-Post with an interview that includes his Literacy Council student Martha Ruiz. Both Martha and Cyndi share how they are helping others and giving to the community in numerous ways.  Please take a moment to read this truly inspiring story: https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/education/learning_and_programs/man-leaves-behind-legacy-of-literacy-student-and-daughter-keep-paying-it-forward/article_540c15c5-f97e-5abe-ab63-d81009701b56.html

Cyndi also serves as a new member of the Board of Directors, and Events and Finance Committees, where she contributes her accounting and grants management experience.

The Literacy Council of Frederick County thanks Cyndi and Martha, and your families, for all of the time spent giving back and helping others in our community. Because of this beautiful shared gift of literacy, our larger community benefits in countless ways.