Literacy Is Essential Telethon

Click the image below to replay the LITERACY IS ESSENTIAL Telethon
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To view the Telethon preview, click here.

A New Tradition

Donate NowDCLC’s annual Champions of Adult Literacy fundraiser honors community members who champion literacy and who support DCLC’s efforts to provide free services to adults who are improving their basic skills, preparing for their GED, or learning English as a Second Language so they can thrive in the workplace and community.

This year DCLC decided to celebrate our Champions of Adult Literacy in a safe and innovative way—online! Welcome to the first-ever Literacy Is Essential Telethon, a free online celebration of adult literacy which aired on Wednesday, October 21, 2020, at 8:00 PM.

Matching Grant Helps Telethon Reach Its Goal

We are excited to announce that all donations made to the Literacy Is Essential Telethon were matched dollar for dollar, up to $15,000.00, thanks to a generous grant from the Rosenthal Family Foundation. With support from this grant, donations from generous individual donors, and from event sponsorships (see list of sponsors below), the Telethon reached its goal of raising $45,000.00 in honor of DCLC’s 45th anniversary!

The 2020 Champions of Adult Literacy

Each of these Champions of Adult Literacy were honored as part of the October 21st Literacy Is Essential Telethon. Click on their photos to get full profiles of each Champion.

Student Champion
Maria Torres

Read Maria’s story here.

Community Champion
Jonathan Abdur Rahim King

Read Jonathan’s story here.

Hometown Hero Champion
Delaware County Citizen Corps

Read the Citizen Corps’ story here.

Special Guests

This exciting online event featured student success stories, Champion awards, and appearances and performances by many special guests with local roots, including:

Messages of support were also shared by:
U.S. Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon
PA Representative Jenn O’Mara
City of Chester Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland
Delaware County Community College President L. Joy Gates Black
CBS3 Anchor Jessica Kartalija
NBC10 Telemundo62 Anchor Lucy Bustamante