(View complete Annual Report here)
Inspiring Stories Only DCLC Students Can Tell
Adults who study at Delaware County Literacy Council (DCLC) have stories to tell. Each student travels a unique path to arrive at the Literacy Council and work toward his or her goals. In 2017–2018, several of DCLC’s inspiring students took the stage to share their journeys. Their words reveal the heart of DCLC’s work. Kevin Morgan (honored as Student Champion at DCLC’s 2017 Champions of Adult Literacy event): “Today you’re looking at that young boy who transformed into a young man. My role models shifted from street thugs to men who were leaders through positive actions. I enrolled myself in Delaware County Literacy, which not only aided me in receiving my GED, but inspired me to further my education and enroll in college.” Alice Johnson (speaking to volunteer tutors at the 2018 Volunteer Appreciation event): “Volunteers are the backbone of this organization. You have used your God-given abilities to help me and countless numbers of students grow in a way that will affect generations to come academically, socially, and economically. You believe in the impossible, and you make it happen.” Michelle Agostini (speaking to fellow graduates at 2018 GED Graduation): View entire Annual Report here.
DCLC Financial Data 2017–2018
View entire Annual Report here. DCLC Program Data 2017–2018
Message from the DirectorDear DCLC Supporters, One of my favorite activities each year is preparing this report because it reminds me of the impact of caring donors, funders, and volunteers working together to improve our community. As you read this report I hope you’ll notice some of my favorite facts about our work. One of the first things I hope you see is the potential of the students we serve. In the infographic above, you’ll see that 46% of the adults who come to DCLC are reading below the sixth-grade reading level and 41% of our adults are looking for work. Though this can feel like a daunting challenge, it’s truly an opportunity for our donors, volunteers, and staff to contribute to life-changing improvements in our students’ lives. The second thing I hope you see is that the generosity of our donors and funders is matched by the grit and tenacity of our students and the volunteers and staff who serve them. Last year our 537 students spent 29,423 hours in class or working with their tutors. You can roughly double that number for time spent on homework, online work, or practicing English in the real world. Because of our donors and funders, 537 adults were able to channel their dreams and hard work into free educational services. Finally, I hope you see the impact that our donors and volunteers have on the adults in our community. After just 60 hours of instruction over three to five months, half of our students improved their skills multiple grade levels. The success stories in this report give a glimpse into the opportunities that open up for our students when their skills and their confidence improve. So even if writing a report doesn’t sound like a favorite activity, being reminded of the awesome potential, tenacity, and success of our students is. Please know that it is DCLC’s supporters—donors, funders, volunteers—who make this possible. Thank you for making your mark. With gratitude, Kate McGeever View entire Annual Report here.
Book Club Donates, Issues ChallengeTo celebrate the “joy of reading” and to honor their 20 years together, the AfterWords Book Club (shown below) made a creative and generous donation to the Literacy Council. Members donated $1 for each of the 20 years the book club has been in existence, resulting in a $260 donation.
The group wanted to take their donation a step further, however, so the AfterWords Book Club challenged other local book clubs to make an anniversary gift to the Literacy Council. The Book Club Challenge for Literacy was born! The challenge was publicized on social media (#BookClubChallenge2018) and through libraries and tutors. DCLC continues to accept Book Club Challenge donations. To learn more about participating book clubs or to take the Book Club Challenge for Literacy, visit https://delcoliteracy.org/donate/challenge/. View entire Annual Report here. Student Success StoriesMaria TorresMaria Torres came to the U.S. with professional skills and experience.
When Maria first applied for a position in a dental office, she was told her English skills were not good enough to do the job. Maria took action and enrolled with the Literacy Council to learn English. In November 2016, she started studying English as a Second Language (ESL) with DCLC Volunteer Tutor James Stein. Maria’s goals were clear. So after working on her English for two years, she applied to a dental office, and this time she landed the job! She is now a full-time dental assistant in the office of Mindy Benjamini, DMD, a dental practice in Narberth PA. Maria did not give up on her dream. As James says, “Her persistence and patience paid off!” Maria continues to study with James. “I’m studying English because I want to live here and continue training and work in my profession.” She is a true inspiration. Emily Branca
For Emily Branca , earning a GED with DCLC in the spring of 2016 allowed her to pursue her goal of working in a spa or salon. To achieve her goal, Emily took specific, practical steps. First, she enrolled in Jean Madeline Aveda Institute in Philadelphia to train to become an esthetician. After she earned her PA license, Emily applied for and obtained a position at Joseph Anthony Retreat Spa & Dry Bar in Springfield. Now she shares her talents and training doing work she loves. Dorcas Hailu
Dorcas Hailu (center) received a certificate and a $100 prize for writing the winning essay in the DCLC “People Helping People” contest, sponsored by Sun East Federal Credit Union. Denise Romanelli (left) of Sun East surprised Dorcas and her tutor Arlette Liberatore (right) with the award. Dorcas wrote an essay about helping a neighbor who was homebound with illness. Students who entered the contest wrote about serving their community by volunteering sometime in the past year. |
“We know how much we enjoy books, and we couldn’t imagine what it would be like not to be able to read. We wanted to give the gift of literacy to others,” said Nancy Waxman, who founded the book club. The group includes members from Delaware County and Greater Philadelphia.
Originally from the Dominican Republic, Maria worked as a dentist in the Dominican Republic and in Spain.
Earning a GED is a memorable milestone in an adult student’s life, but it also is the first step toward a better life for that student. Having a high school equivalency allows students to pursue further education and better jobs.
View entire Annual Report here.
DCLC Volunteers 2017–2018
| Sallie Anderson Richard Robin Austin Paul E. Badey Annamaria Beatty Robert Berley Shirley B. Birenbaum Ronald Blagman Frances Bloom Susan Bowen Valerie Breen Lisa Brinkman Robert Briselli Rebecca Brown Harry Bryans Olga Canamucio Colleen Marie Cannon Susan Chast Jennifer Colaccio Michael Coladonato Snownia Collins Sheila Cooper Chad Crisp Diane Crompton Barry Cutler Barbara Daley Nancy Daniel Dylan Davis Susanna DeCecco Frances DiLucido Mary Dunwoody Rick Durante Catherine Durkin Paul Durkin Ellen Eidelson Eleanor Ercole William Fantini Julia Fernandez John Fiedler Claire Field Ana Figueiredo Edward Finn |
Shahida Firfiray Beth Fitzsimons Eileen Flanagan Maureen Fleming Joann Flocco Joanne B. Frank Gerry Galgon Donald Garfinkel Julia Gaskins Patricia Garzarella Gigl Ann Gilligan Shyamali Godbole Anick Guillaume Gornish Stanley Gornish Mary Graham Flossie Graziola Lorraine Grippi Charles J. Hanna Daniel Hanson Angelo Hardy Karen Hardy Joyce Henderson Elaine Herbert Gene Hillman Glenda Hodges Linda Hosier Diane Hughes Penny Hughes Charles J. Istak Anthony Jennings Jay Joyce Michael Jurski Sandy Kauffman Lynn Kelly Jonathan Abdur Rahim King Carolyn Klock Ed Koons Ellen Kornfield Hazel Lafleur-Vetter Joyce Lee Michael LeFevre |
Victoria Lender Lois Levine-Elman Patrick Lewis Arlette Liberatore Jourdeana Linder Dick Linderman Jo Lumley Marie Maloney Marty Mannion David Markman David Marshall Michael Martin Peter Matthews Joseph McGonigle Tracy McIntosh Pamela Mitchell Renee Morris Eve Mountford Barbara Murphy William Murray Shri Nandan Debra Naso Margaret Natalie Annette Newman Marie-Annette O’Connor Charles O’Hala Caroline Packard Kristie Palumbo Susan Parker Patricia Paul Michael Perlstein Nancy Philippi Frank Pilson Linda Ramsey Elsa Rapp Reginald Regis Carol Reich Sadia Riasat Patricia Rizzo Susan Roseman |
Anne Rossi Barbara Saling June Sargent Rande Saxe Michael Scalise Patricia Scanlon Edward Schellhase Frances Schultz Leah Semmelhaack John Shaw Barbara Sheehan Craig Sheffler-Collins Mariann Sibinga Eunice Silver Helen B. Simyak Stephen Small Marianne Stapf James Stein Jennifer L. Stock Doreen Storey Peter Stroup Anne Tallent Bruce Thompson Kelly Thornton Ilene Chester Cynthia Trago Jacqueline Trolley Edward van Steenwyk Anthony Vivian Saral Waldorf Helene Walker Patricia Walker Christine Walton Brian Weir Carol A. Weiss Pamela Whitsett-Grundy Richard Whittington Margaret Wyant Robert Young |
View entire Annual Report here.
DCLC Donors 2017–2018
See also Gifts in Honor of and Gifts in Memory of.
| 320 Market Cafe 3M Advanced Material Division 3M Donation Program Richard Adelizzi AfterWords Book Club Agilent Technologies Helene S. Alexander Michael Allen Allstate Anonymous Aria’s Restaurant Steven Arnold and Reisa Mukamal Jomo Atkins Brian Badgley Robert Barkhau Charles Barksdale, Jr. Todd Bauders Nancy Baulis David Belanger Robert and Bonnie Bellino Linda Berkowitz Robert and Carole Berley Amy Berman Madeline Bialecki Ronald and Ann Binder Shirley B. Birenbaum Ronald Blagman Stephen Bobyock Joseph Bohovic Jane Bostwick Susan Bowen Thurman R. Brendlinger, Jr. and Lisa O’Mahony Brenda Brenner Brinker Simpson & Company Lisa Brinkman Robert Briselli Peter Brooks Reece Brown Steven J. Brown Nicole L Bruno Jane Buchanan Carey Burns Judith Burns Nora Burridge D. Byrne Deanna Marie Byrne David and Margaret Camp Hilda Campbell John P. and Sharon J. Capuzzi Thea Carey Jacqueline Castagna Joseph and Debra Charley David and Adriana Chalson Chester Water Authority Mary E. Chollet-Lordan Patricia Cimino Hollie Citerone Peter and Susan Clarey Kristin, Casey, Cicely and Erin Clark William Clendenin Comcast Theresa Connors Ryan Conte Gwendolyn Cottman Wilson Cottman Charles and Sabine Cranmer Diane Crompton Joann Crowley Michael and Maureen Culbert Barbara Daley Michael and Erica Danowitz Elizabeth Davis Susanna DeCecco Delaware County Human Resources Assn. Thomas Deluca Louise Denight William and Carol DiMaio Joan Dlugos Nancy Ducato Elizabeth Dunford Rick Durante Paul and Catherine Durkin Mary Anne Duthie Pierce Eckhart William Eichner Daniel and Lisa Embon Exelon Foundation ExxonMobil Foundation Judy Farling Caroline Marie Fecek Frank and Mary Fee Mary Ann Fiebert Catherine Fine Edward and Ellen Finn Beth Fitzsimons Eileen Flanagan Maureen Fleming Pasqualyn C. Flick The Franklin Fountain Arthur Frank Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union Peter and Irene Friedrichs Friends of Brian Kirkland Joseph Gyourko and Sally Fullam Dara Gaeta Donald Garfinkel Jocelyn Garfinkel Susan Garfinkel Patricia R. Gaul Teresa Gault Gerald J. Ward Trust |
Emmanuel Gilbert Jeanine Gillespie Tyrone Gilliam Ann Gilligan Arthur G. Girton, Esq. Gary Glenn and Judith Buck-Glenn Joshua and Cecilia Gold Flossie Graziola Ann Green Ms. Nina Grier and Ms. Lynne Coleman Charlotte Griffin Daniel Guerin Stephen B. and Annmichele P. Gutsche Wilma Guzman-Perez Kerry and Rebecca Haber Alfred Johnson, Jr. and Nancy Halli Mary Halloran Karen Hamilton Connie Haney Charles J. Hanna Holger and Anne Hansen Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack Brian and Barbara Harris Kathleen Hauger Health Care Solutions of Delaware Valley, LLC Frank Heinze Kathy Henderson Charlene Hennessy Naomi Hirahara Robin L. Holmes Kevin and Bridget Hughes Iacona Collision Specialists Charles J Istak Donna M. James Michelle Janmey JB Collision, Inc. Jenny Jex John Cipollone, Inc. Caryn Johnson Jay Joyce Lisa A. Kaiser Janise Kane Steven Katz and Lauren Freidus Katz Sandy Kauffman Susan Keller Lynn Kelly Kimberly Clark Corporation King’s Automotive, Inc. Thaddeus Kirkland Ruth Kivitz Carolyn Klock Kim Kondla Ed Koons Thomas Korman Don Korobkin and Sandra Herman Frederick Kosel KPB Realtor David E. Landau and Stephanie H. Klein Mary Beth Lauer Barbara A. Laurenzi Michael LeFevre Melissa Lenhard Deanna Levin Patrick Lewis Arlette Liberatore Dick Linderman Barbara Logan Jeannie Longin Jo Lumley Christopher Maher Toby and Melanie Maloney Greg and Mara Manfre Martin and Mary Mannion Michael Marinucci David Markman David and Cynthia Marshall Irma Mason Peter Matthews Stephen B. Maurer and Frances Stier Joan P. Mauriello Kenneth L. McCalla Laura McCree Patrick McGeeverCarolyn McGlinchey Peter McLaughlin Gloria McNutt Media Music Theatre Co. Candace Meier Andrew Merz and Ann Broussard Pamela A Messaros Allen and Elizabeth Meyer John and Faith Midwood Marge W. Mirarchi Vincent and Laura Mirigliani Gloria Jean Mitchell Pamela Mitchell Doris Mitrani Joe and Lillian Mittleman Byron D. Moat Pat Morgan William and Virginia Mosher Tatiana Moskatova George and Eve Mountford Marshall Muhammad Karen Munin Ellen Murphey and Zara Joffe Barbara Murphy |
John Murphy Rostyslav and Victoria Muzychko National Spanish Honor Society, Upper Darby H.S. Donna Neary David Neill Richard and Mary Nenno Brian and Linda O’Hara Patricia O’Donnell Richard and Patricia Paul Jacqualine Peace Judith and Thomas Pearsall Peoples Light & Theatre Steven Perry and Meredith Flower Alfred and Ellen Pierce Frank Pilson Christine Polischuk David and Amy Pollack Robert Pope John and Margaret Preg Professional Duplicating, Inc. James and Kathleen Proud Linda Ramsey Lizzie Reed Carol Reich Wayne and Patricia Reid Andrew and Joann Reinsel Donald Richter and Jane Gilligan Wendella Ricker Neal Rightley David Riley Annette Rizzo Sarah Roemer Lynne Roots Stefan Roots Paula Rosen Arlene Rossi Mary Ellen Roy Thomasine Ryan Robert and Judith Schachner Carrie Schiavo Ann K. Seidman Robert T. Senior Maureen Sharon Frances Sheehan Daniel and Barbara Sheehan Eunice Silver Doug Sisk and Patricia Rizzo Hannah Sisk David and Carol Smallwood Thomas D. and Teresa M. Smedile Dan Snyder and Joan Neely Lois F. Snyder Marianne Stapf Star Vista Enterprisess, LLC Renae Ross Starker John and Susan Stefanski James Stein and Richard CouchTyler L Stewart Jennifer L. Stock Kelli Stock Teresa J. Stock Peter Stokes and Nikki Senecal Maria Strauman Peter Stroup and Moira Hahn Mary Jane C. Sturgis Helen Subbio Flora Sullivan Sun East Charitable Foundation Sun East Federal Credit Union Alfred and Mariann Talbot Anne Tallent The Bryn Mawr Trust Company The Inn at Swarthmore The Interboro Kindergarden Academy The Merck Foundation Terry Thornton Kelly Thornton Dottie Tiffany Lyndora Patterson Tiller Frank Tobin and Ilene Chester Top Class Detailing Eric Townes Marie Treftz Joseph and Louise Troiani Thomas and Jean Ann Tryson Eleanor Vadala Kathleen Vukoder Saral Waldorf Margaret Wales Barbara Walsh Brian K. Washington Nancy Waxman Cathy Weaver Carol A. Weiss Garry and Susanne Werner Edwin and Suzanne West Lois A. Westhoff Scott Whelan Robert White Crystal Whitehead Richard Whittington Molly Williamson Sallie J. Wilson Paul Winnington, III Mark Winston Tracey Witchko Ernest Wright Margaret Wyant Malcolm Yates Linda Youngstrom Charles and Ann Zech |
Gifts in Honor ofSheila Bell Robert and Carole Berley Madeline Bialecki Frances Bloom John Byrne Delaware County Jean Dorschu Don Garfinkel Karen Hamilton Charlotte Hobson Griffin Marie Reich Frances Stier Jennifer L. Stock Volunteers View entire Annual Report here. Gifts in Memory ofJames Bajorek Anthony Blagman Topsy Blagman Ruth Farling Mary Gilligan Leonard Goldfield Ethel I. Kennedy Florence Klein Rachel McGeever Pat Miele Joan Pilson Deborah Preg Helen B. Simyak Daniel Stevick Matthew Twyman, Jr. Earl Vadala Carl Westhoff Gerald J. Ward View entire Annual Report here. |
View entire Annual Report here.
Delaware County Literacy Council 