here - Community Foundation of Greater New Britain

Building Bridges to Productive Lives
What does literacy mean to you? For the staff
and volunteers – but mostly for the nearly 500
adults served last year by Literacy Volunteers of
Central Connecticut – learning to read, write or
speak English just scratches the surface.
Literacy means finding a job. Literacy means
helping your child with homework. Literacy means
passing a U.S. citizenship exam. Literacy means
self-confidence. Literacy means independence.
Literacy means sleeping well at night, knowing you
have the tools and confidence to provide for your family.
Literacy means life.
Literacy Volunteers of Central Connecticut, based at the
New Britain Public Library, serves the people of 16 towns in the
LITERACY
VOLUNTEERS
OF CENTRAL
CONNECTICUT
Central Connecticut region. The program
serves adults 18 and older, many of whom
are at society’s lowest levels of literacy.
By far, the program’s largest number of
students, some 90 percent, are students
from other countries who do not speak
English. But there are
many American-born students who simply may
never have learned to read or write.
But the Literacy Volunteers program can
mean much more than simply learning to
read, write or speak English. In recent years,
the program has focused on a variety of new
need-specific programming, such as math
literacy, computer literacy and family literacy.
These new initiatives are designed to
help students where they need it
most, whether it is to pass a
driver’s test, get a job or better
understand their child’s school
curriculum and educational
requirements.
Students may enroll in Literacy
Volunteers programming for
a wide variety of needs.
Alicja Peszko, left, studied for
her U.S. citizenship examination
with tutor Stacy Theriault.
Helmer and Barbara Frisk
in memory of Sylvia Waxman
Key Foundation
The Stanley Works-Matching Gifts Program
William G. Bryant Memorial Scholarship Fund
Jerry and Rosemary Bryant
Marjorie T. Chase
Leo and Shirley Pomoranski
Carlson Family Fund
Cheryl and Herb Carlson
in memory of Libby Carlson
Estate of Elizabeth Carlson
Conry Asset Management Charitable Fund
Conry Asset Management, LLC
CW Resources Fund
Abbott Ball Company United
Employees’ Charity Fund
Aetna Foundation, Inc.,
Partners in Community Giving
Jane and Frank Amodio
Anonymous
in memory of Robert A. Miller
Rachel Bangher, Utility Analysts, LLC
David O. Bond
in memory of Katie Klimas
“We are really focused on
what the student needs and
wants to learn,” says Darlene
Hurtado, executive director.
“It’s generally community
goals, work goals, family
goals. Most of our students
love to learn; they have the
skills, but maybe they just
never had the opportunities
most of us enjoy.”
Family literacy has become
Gerardo Lopez, top left, and his wife
Elfride Rivera, bottom right, along with
their children, are active participants in
the Family Literacy program. Tutor Paula
Lopatosky, top right, has been with them
every step of the way.
a significant component of the program. Literacy Volunteers
works cooperatively with the New Britain school system to conduct
programming for families at Jefferson and Smalley Elementary
Schools that helps families bond and work together to overcome
their literacy challenges.
The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain has been
a long-time supporter of Literacy Volunteers. Since 1982, the
Foundation has provided nearly $250,000 in grants to the program,
including funding for a unique program called Bridges to Literacy,
which ensures that students who are successful in the classroom
can translate that success to family,
work and community life.
“The Community
Foundation’s support has really
helped us get to that next
level,” says Hurtado.
Aime and Rita Brochu
Harold and Judith Brodsky
Ron and Marjorie Buccilli
Elfrieda Buettemeyer
Ron and Claire Burridge
Errol Chambers
Liz Conran
Atty. William V. and Norma B. Dworski
Robert N. Eisner
Josephine Giguere and Family
Stanley and Sophie Golas
Ernest Groth
Mr. and Mrs. J. Gregory Hickey
Hitchcock Printing and Distribution Services
Continued
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