Photo provided by The Literacy Center – (left to right) – Janice Morales, student at TLC, Sara Hailstone, Interim Executive Director at TLC, Alan Salinger, board member, Att. Avery Smith, board president, Renae Yeager, TLC board treasurer, Alvaro Rodriguez, student at TLC, Carol Obando-Derstine, PPL Regional Affairs Director.
THE LITERACY CENTER RECEIVES GRANT FROM PPL FOUNDATION TO ADVANCE STRATEGIC GROWTH IN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS
Allentown, PA, – Adults from throughout the Lehigh Valley will have access to important literacy and English-language education, thanks in part to a grant to The Literacy Center.
The Literacy Center recently received a $5,000 grant from the PPL Foundation. These funds will provide operating support as The Literacy Center meets the community’s growing needs for adult education in English as a Second Language (ESL) and high school equivalency diploma (GED). This grant will also support curricula development and increasing the role of in-house transition counselors to link students to additional education and employment opportunities.
“Literacy is more than reading and writing; it helps students gain sustainable work and technology skills that transition to the workplace. Thanks to partners like the PPL Foundation, The Literacy Center will be able to help hundreds of students develop these skills this year,” reported Avery E. Smith, Esq., board president of The Literacy Center.
The PPL Foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process.
“We support educational efforts that are dedicated to helping people help themselves,” said Carol Obando-Derstine, PPL Electric Utilities’ regional affairs director. “We applaud the efforts of The Literacy Center to help individuals in Allentown and throughout the entire Lehigh Valley to obtain their GED, access ESL classes, and learn behaviors and skill sets that will lead to success in life”.
About The Literacy Center
Since 1977, The Literacy Center has offered no-cost instruction to more than 27,500 Lehigh Valley adults as they improve their reading, writing, and English language skills or work towards earning their high school equivalency diploma (GED). The programs connect students with economic and educational opportunities and improve their quality of life. For more information, visit www.theliteracycenter-lv.org.
About the PPL Foundation
Through strategic partnerships, the PPL Foundation will support organizations that are doing innovative and groundbreaking work to create vital, sustainable communities and empowering each citizen to fulfill his or her potential. The PPL Foundation contributes more than $2 million annually to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.pplcares.com.
Information and image provided to TVL by:
Christine Bauder
Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator
The Literacy Center
