Literacy Mid-South Annual Report 2012

Literacy Mid-South 2012 Annual Report

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Change is good.

Literacy Mid-South student Leslie Moore bravely marched with an “I Am A Man” sign as a sanitation worker participating in the sanitation strikes led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sadly, Leslie was unable to read the signs around him, the pamphlets on civil rights, or newspaper articles about the march. Having only finished school through the sixth grade, Leslie managed to go more than 60 years without learning to read until he became a Literacy Mid-South student.

In 1968 Memphis needed to change. Sanitation workers wanted equality, proper treatment and pay. As a 21 year old Leslie recalls, “police pointing shotguns at us, tear gas, people being thrown in jail. You name it,” he said, “that all happened.” Leslie and the other sanitation workers courageously stood for the people of Memphis who needed a voice, and Dr. King helped give it to them As a young man in the midst of chaotic violent clashes between the police and striking workers, Leslie listened to Dr. King’s speech that fateful April night before his assassination.

He remembers distinctly how powerful Dr. King’s voice was in the midst of the largest indoor crowd of the Civil Rights Movement’s history. “He had a lot power behind every word that he was saying… he had the voice of a trumpet,” Leslie said.

Listening to Dr. King’s last speech moved Leslie.

After being a sanitation worker his entire adult life, some 40 years later Reverend King’s

passion for bettering people’s lives still stuck with Leslie as he finally decided to pursue his own dreams of becoming a preacher.

Frustrated, he came to Literacy Mid-South because he felt that he could not properly fulfill the duties of a preacher if he could not read. Even though he was getting a later start to reading than most, he knew in order to help his future congregation to the best of his ability, he needed to read.

Seeking help at Literacy Mid-South gives Leslie the tools he needs to work to better the community through the written word. Leslie said he asked God to send him some way to learn to read, and then he heard about Literacy Mid-South’s Adult Learning Program. Leslie’s persistence in his tutoring is inspiring and he says that he practices daily. Leslie has stopped simply memorizing words and now reads full sentences.

Literacy Mid-South has brought pride to Leslie through reading. Preaching is his calling and reading helps him get there. Leslie had gone a long time without knowing how to read, but he said, “I wanted to better myself, not only to help myself, but help other folk.”

Now, he encourages the people he meets struggling with literacy to not give up “I tell them now to hang on in there,” he said. Leslie is just one amazing example of how Literacy Mid-South can change one life but positively affects many more. ■

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Kevin Dean Executive Director Over the last year, Literacy Mid-South has truly unlocked the organization’s unlimited potential to advance literacy in the Mid-South. We are moving through our organizational renewal and into a promising future with new staff members and more streamlined, revitalized programming. Every staff member and our volunteers have put in countless hours this year to make it one of immense progress. And thanks to your strong support, Literacy Mid-South is now an organization leading the state in learning models and providing even more benefits to our community as we help citizens become life-long learners.

Literacy Mid-South’s Adult Learning Program adopted a new, more self-directed learning model for our students, which puts learning directly in their hands utilizing real world examples and small groups. Adults learn differently than children, and we encourage collaborative learning within small groups in which adults guide each other through learning, helping each student gain the tools he or she needs to better navigate their own world with reading. We have implemented this new model into our volunteer trainings, emphasizing the importance of empowering our students through literacy, not just telling them what we think they need to know. Each Literacy Mid-South adult student is now provided with a detailed learning plan, outlining their personal goals and placed in a small group of adults with similar goals, or enrolled in classes to help them meet their learning objectives. We also have new Reading Companion software and iPads in our updated computer lab that interacts and works with students on reading, pronunciation, grammar and spelling.

The Smart Memphis Coalition has enabled Literacy Mid-South to become an educational leader in our community. With over 125 members, Smart Memphis has held numerous, at-capacity seminars, workshops, trainings, and other events to encourage community collaboration and make sure literacy is at the forefront of our community priorities. Literacy Mid-South is proud to partner with so many wonderful organizations and we know that we alone cannot help everyone, especially with 120,000 functionally illiterate adults in the Mid-South. Combating illiteracy takes the whole community.

We were very excited about our events this year, such as Super Gala, Literacy is Key, the Corporate Spelling Bee, and Literatini, just to name a few. Our events fostered wonderful momentum in our community, enabling us to advocate the importance of literacy as a basic human need. The support from these events helped us reach more people than ever before.

Literacy Mid-South’s next year will only be better. As our supporters, we look to you to share our efforts with family, friends, and colleagues. Ensuring that our mission is furthered throughout the community is in your hands. Please continue to donate your time, resources, and efforts to the best of your ability as we strongly and passionate move forward. Without you, we wouldn’t exist.

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Whitney Harmon Board Chair The Next Year: Coming off of a remarkable year, Literacy Mid-South is moving forward in dynamic ways. As an organization we have so much energy and excitement about the work we are doing in the community, the people who are changing their lives through the use of our services, and those we are working even harder to reach. Literacy Mid-South acknowledges the challenges nonprofits face in difficult economic times like these, but with the vision of Kevin Dean as our guide, we continue to test new ways to expand our reach through more efficient and effective means.

These efforts include a renovation of our Adult Program curriculum to not only address the immediate needs of our students, but also to offer different ways for those students to learn.

We recognize there is no one size fits all model when it comes to learning, and we are forming relationships with other literacy organizations across the country to discover new teaching tools that will make a bigger impact in our community. Another way we are working to expand our reach in the community is through fostering relationships among the literacy organizations in Memphis through our Smart Memphis Coalition. This Coalition offers its more than 100 member organizations not only the support of the other member organizations, but also training opportunities, resources, and a unified voice in the continued advocacy efforts of Literacy MidSouth.

The past year is just an example of the passion in Literacy Mid-South’s mission, and we look forward to continuing our efforts to honor our mission in the upcoming year. We are an organization made up of individuals who believe literacy is not only a right, but also a tool every member of our community deserves to make a difference in their life. Literacy Mid-South believes that through literacy, lives are changed and communities are empowered. Therefore we remain committed to being the driving force in the mid-south addressing illiteracy and the destructive impact it has on over 120,000 individuals in our community.

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Teri Sullivan Advisory Board Chair We are living in the midst of great and rapid change. It seems that technology (computers, smart phones, etc) is being improved with each second, making what we currently use obsolete before we even begin using it. People who cannot read (or who cannot read well) were already behind the curve. With these constant advances, the chasm only widens.

As I have watched bookstores, post offices, newspapers, and more close their doors forever, I have become increasingly concerned about what this means for jobs. It doesn’t take a large workforce to make a book available electronically. In the paper world, many people are needed to print, assemble, ship and sell books. And it takes nearly an army to create, print and distribute a daily newspaper. It seems that almost every single industry that employs large numbers of workers is in danger. And those that continue successfully are sending many jobs overseas, citing cost efficiency and an increasingly uneducated workforce in America.

So what this means is that America is developing a new kind of economy. We seem to be moving away from manufacturing and into service. Computers may run many things, but we still need people to create, service and program them. This means that an educated workforce becomes increasingly important.

The work done each day by Literacy Mid-South has never been more needed. People cannot fully participate in their communities if they cannot read. Illiteracy creates danger in individual lives (inability to read safety messages, traffic signs, prescriptions). We cannot get driver’s licenses, if we cannot read the application. And with the new Voter ID laws, not having a driver’s license (or a valid photo ID- also requiring paperwork) means a person cannot participate in electing officials who represent him/her.

Reading is essential, but not just for individuals. It is vital to keep up with a changing economy, to make our city competitive for corporations to bring jobs to the community, to lower poverty and crime rates, and to contribute to the welfare of everyone.

I hope you will join me in supporting the important work of Literacy Mid-South.

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Smart Memphis With more than 120,000 Memphians who cannot read above a sixth grade level, Literacy Mid-South has realized that we simply cannot try to conquer illiteracy on our own. In January of 2012, Literacy Mid-South launched the Smart Memphis Coalition. The Smart Memphis Coalition was created to expand the quality and impact of community educational services by providing advanced training, resources, and opportunities for collaboration. After a year of focus groups and consultants, we found that many other educational organizations were struggling for funding, training, and impactful and sustainable program models.

By bringing organizations together to learn and collaborate, Literacy Mid-South intends to broaden our reach into the community by serving the organizations that serve low income and low literate populations.

Jeanette McKinley, Assistant Director of Administration and Educational Programs at Urban Youth Initiative was a part of an initial focus group informing Literacy Mid-South on the community’s expectations and what could be done better. She said the focus group recognized the need for the community and nonprofits to have more information on literacy and that Smart Memphis was filling a void by providing networking and opportunities to gain resources.

“Smart Memphis has already helped me foster stronger relationships with other community organizations that can help my organization. It’s a great tool for communication and resource sharing. My expectations are that Literacy Mid-South is the literacy expert in our community and now that we are collaborating through Smart Memphis, I know I can call with questions and get the answers I need. My perspective on the changes at Literacy Mid-South is very positive,” she said.

Already, the Smart Memphis Coalition has provided six educational seminars for local tutors, a citywide Literacy Summit, a technology seminar, and book and school supply giveaways worth more than $100,000.

In 2013, the Coalition will also: • Develop an online literacy landscape that will provide access to resources for parents, children, and adult learners in various communities across the Mid-South. This landscape will also allow organizations to find “literacy deserts” in Memphis and target communities that are lacking educational resources.

• Provide more than $100,000 worth of resources to local educational providers in the form of books, school supplies, mini-grants, and pro bono consultation from our corporate partners.

• Provide better community outreach to underserved populations in Memphis through strategic collaborations with other nonprofit organizations.

• Create online resources for tutors of all organizations that will be available on our website to download free of charge.

• Kick off a city-wide reading campaign in March 2013.

Executive Director Kevin Dean adds, “Our Coalition has the opportunity to improve outcomes for both children and adults living in tough neighborhoods. By reaching the organizations that serve the communities that we don’t, we can make the biggest impact in this history of our organization.” ■

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Our Programs Adult Learning Program The writing was on the wall: Literacy Mid-South’s Adult Learning Program needed a facelift. After nearly forty years of embracing the “Each One Teach One” model, national trends indicated that our Adult Learning Program was miles behind other programs across the United States. Collaborative learning, a new model that puts the learners first and allows volunteer tutors to facilitate learning through a partnership with the student, was a more progressive model that had been discussed but never truly implemented in the Adult Learning Program. While effective, the traditional “Each One Teach One” tutor-student relationship usually lapses into the formal teacher-student approach of “you need to learn what I know.” However, the more progressive collaborative learning approach is an exploratory, experiential, truly educational approach where both the facilitator and the student know something about the topic, share from each perspective, and appreciate a broader understanding of an issue, event, or person.

To implement these sweeping changes to the program, Literacy Mid-South began retraining all of the current volunteers about how to implement collaborative learning into their weekly tutoring sessions. The new volunteer orientation added new training sessions to

include the topics of collaborative learning and how adults learn differently from children.

A new computer lab was outfitted with new software that promotes collaborative learning, and an iPad lab was built for students and volunteers to enjoy together. Large classes of up to 30 people were eliminated and replaced by small groups of 6 or less. A new tutor resource room was created to provide resources for tutors.

Most importantly, students are now empowered to direct their learning. When a new student comes into the program, Adult Learning Program staff work collaboratively with each adult learner to develop personal literacy goals and an individualized learning path. Adult students are now allowed to learn what they want to learn, providing them with literacy skills that they can immediately implement in their daily lives.

After only a year, Literacy Mid-South’s efforts in creating a new learning model for our students is being replicated statewide, and Adult Learning Program staff have been asked to present at conferences and meetings throughout Tennessee. We are very proud of the changes we have made to our program, and we have even bigger plans for 2012-2013.

Stay tuned! ■

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Family Literacy Program This year, in efforts to build a stronger preventative side to generational literacy issues, the Family Literacy Program conducted a series of workshops to parents and caregivers of families in low-income households, covering topics such as: Why Read Aloud, Brain Development, Starting a Home Library, Six Pre-Reading Skills, Age-Appropriate Books, Repetition and Repeated Reading, Dialogic Reading, TV vs. Reading, and Kindergarten Ready Preparations. These workshops discussed how important young children’s exposure to reading is and how families can generate life long learning.

Participants were given free books and backpacks with school supplies. This program was integral in learning about the current literacy practices between parents and their pre-K-aged children in low-income households.

Literacy Mid-South engaged other nonprofits in these workshops, providing them with the opportunity to highlight family literacy in their own programs. As we built strong

relationships with other organizations and their programs became more centered on family literacy, we happily recognized the need to let others take over to avoid duplicating services.

After ten years of serving the community, Literacy Mid-South ended the Family Literacy Program on June 30, 2012. We are so happy to have garnered support for this important community issue and are happy that so many organizations are carrying the torch.

Through the Family Literacy Program we equipped partnering organizations with the tools they needed to advocate for family literacy, and we continue to do so as those organizations are now members of the Smart Memphis Coalition. As members they are supported with continuing education on family literacy, as well as resources, both professionally and with physical supplies. Working together in the community only makes education stronger, and Literacy Mid-South is leading the collaborative efforts to build a stronger foundation for our society. ■

Academy Tutoring The Academy Tutoring Project celebrated its final year of service to charter schools in the Mid-South. Through the years, the program has served thousands of children who were falling behind in school. This year, Literacy Mid-South handed the program off to the charter schools, who are now equipped to handle their individual programs.

Through the Academy Tutoring Project four schools will be able to take on the program and individualize their own tutoring. Literacy Mid-South spent the year preparing schools to run their own programs and provided a detailed development plan to transition them, including a “Tutor In A Box” tool. Tutor In A Box is a resource kit for tutors to help them help their students reach their academic goals more successfully. Schools were also provided trainings on how to select volunteers and place them with students. Tutors are trained and then placed with a student struggling with reading or math, while also serving as mentors.

The four schools that the Academy Tutoring program served were also integrated into Literacy Mid-South’s Smart Memphis Coalition to ensure that we continue to support their students’ literacy needs. We’re so happy to have been a part of helping so many children, and we look forward to serving these schools in the future through our various programs. ■

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Special Events

Super Gala 2012

Literatini

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Special Events

The Great Book Drop

Literacy Is Key

Kappa Kappa Gama Luncheon James and the Giant Peach

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Volunteers Help Students Put Down Literacy Roots Literacy Mid-South student Boubacar Bah is fluent in three different languages, but until 2010 he went his whole life without learning to read. Originally from Guinea, West Africa, he never had any formal schooling, but Boubacar has made a new life in Memphis with his family as the owner of a service station. He came to Literacy Mid-South to be able to write and read to improve his business skills, but Boubacar also wanted to learn to read for his two little girls.

Twice a week Boubacar takes time out of his workday to work with his tutor, Anne Townsend. Anne and Boubacar could not appear to be more different, but the friendship they share has changed each of them. Anne has been volunteering at Literacy Mid-South for two years and has watched Boubacar make leaps and bounds in his reading development. “Before coming to volunteer here it was very hard for me to imagine someone not having that ability.

Literacy affects every single part of an adult’s

life and I wanted to make a difference for someone by helping them learn to read. I have an enthusiasm for learning and I think that is my favorite part of volunteering, getting to see my student expand his own passion for learning,” Anne said.

Anne has watched Boubacar progress from a bottom tier reading level to a more advanced level, which is truly amazing considering he works full-time providing for his family.

Anne has also seen major improvements in Boubacar’s writing and the pride he takes in his academic progress. “He has an interest in reading now and is so enthusiastic to be here.

I am always in awe of Boubacar’s interesting life and his perseverance,” Anne said. As Boubacar progresses in his reading skills, he is better equipped as a business man, but also for his young family. Anne has helped him give his daughters an irreplaceable gift, a father who can read to his children. ■

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Volunteers Leo Alessi Joy Almond Debra Anderson Donna Applewhite Frank Armstrong Cynthia Austin Whitney Baer David Barker Jim Barnett Ameen Basheer Janie Bates Adrienne Beall Ann Bendall Maria Bibbs Megan Black Mary Blair Ashli Blow Vince Boberski Judy Bogan Louise Bowens-Brown Bonnie Brewer Cassandra Brittmon Norma “Charlie� Brown Rebecca Brown Tae Brown Anne Brunson Bill Bullock Sarah Butts Alison Campany Margaret Cardwell Jestine Carter Paula Carter Amanda Clarkson Mary Cline Dustin Cokeing Shirley Cole Phoebe Copeland Jaime Cowart Francesca Cozza Chandley Crawford Debra Crutchfield Pauletta Dabney Joey Darnell Delois Daugherty Mike Deaderick Terry Digel Michael Dockery Shari Doles

Jim Dorman Lolly Easley Ward Ebersole Gina Ennis Donna Essary Tom Ewart Janis Fabok Robert Fagley Sharon Fields Leah Fitzpatrick Aaron Fowles Lynn Franklin Jorja Frazier Noel Fulton Earnestine Gainwell Alfred Garrett Walter Gibson Serafina Ginley Jeanetta Glass Regina Gordon Sonia Gordon Cissy Greene Laura H. Greinke Patrice Griffin Wanda Griffin Ian Hall Jane Hampshire Jean Handley Belinda Hardy Belinda Hardy Sandra Harris Sharmika Harris Cherri Hatton Debbie Hayes Van Alan Heidelberg Debbie Herr Judith Hicks Veronica Hicks Craig Hodge Vicki Hoeglund Donna Hoffman Cynthia Holland Bill Hooker Susan Hopson Reva House Alicia Howard Allison Howard Hattie Howard

Nancy Howell Brenda Hudson Angela Hughes Susan Inman Rita Ivory Ashley Jackson Karen Jarvis Danian Jerry Denise Johnson Lisa Johnson Sallie Johnson April Jones Joyce Jones Leslie Jones Lorean Jones Tammy Jones Diana Kabakoff Susan Kelly Anthony Kirkendhall Cynthia Kirkpatrick Rachel Kosmitis Carmen Kreider Asiyah Kurtz Joe Kyle Lou Langley Jeanne Larkin Julie Latcham Patsy LaVelle Mary Beth Lawing Sandy Lawrence Gladys Lowe Katy Mack Suzanne Malone Charlotte Maloney Hope Martin Tom Martin Jim Matthews Curt Mayhew Janet Mc Lure Mary Lou McCaa Anna McCabe Jesse McCabe Michael McCloskey Philip McDermott Jackey McDowell Diane McFarland Elza McKenna Alann Meadows

Michele Miller Rosetta Miller Roberta V. Mills Emma Jean Moore Hester Moore Elizabeth Mosby Arris Murphy Vicki Murrell William Neal Terri Nilson Edna Norton Jon Oberhausen Francis Offiong Janice Ousley Dorothy Jean Owen Jewell Paige Jacqueline Palmer Kimberly Parker Jeff Peacock Teri Peacock Mike Peugh Virginia Phillips Sarah Piazza Linda Pillow Joe Pipkin David Pope Ann Poteat John S. Potts Alfred Powell Barry Powell, Sr. Pat Primrose Mary Pullen Robert Raiteri Tony Rallings Amanda Rast Jan Raubian Judy Rawles Linda Richmond William Roberts Andre Robinson Deborah Rogers Ellie Rolfes Emily Ruch Melanie Rudd Jim Russell Carolyn Saino Andrea Sander Marvin Sanford

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Wayne Shannon Malorie Simon Norma Simon Lorene Sims Sandra Smegelsky Bryce Smith Sharrion Smith Tamatha Smith Dan Snider Candace Spearman Chad Standish John Stevenson Prudy Stevenson David Stone Sally Stover Pamela Strayhorn Janice Stubbs Gerald Studebaker Linda Swift Mark Tanenbaum Sandra Tanenbaum Pat Taylor Wilma Taylor Jaspie Thornton Japsie Thorton Sharon Todd Anne Townsend Cary Vaughn Emmye Walker Lynn Walker Tonya Wallace Betty Watkins Anne Webb Greg Weidenhoffer Mary Alice Welsh Winter Wicks Robert Wiener Gloria Williams Page Williamson Betsy Wiseman Lisa Word John Wright John Young Nisha Yun

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Financials Literacy Mid-South, Inc. Statements of Activities Years Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011

Unrestricted Net Assets

Year Ended June 30, 2012

Year Ended June 30, 2011

$ 118,018

$ 124,130

234,160

116,706

20,000

0

Support

United Way Services funding

Business Organizations

Government Grants

Individuals

156,173

62,654

Fundraising

74,406

24,646

Investment Income

25

270

$ 602,782

$ 328,406

-0-

-0-

Total Unrestricted Support and Reclassifications $ 602,782

$ 328,406

Total Unrestricted Support Net Assets Released From Restricitions

Expenses

Program Services

Management and General

$ 324,965

$ 359,153

163,438

215,317

Fundraising

26,690

1,605

Total Expenses

$ 515,093

$

Increase (Decrease) in Unrestricted Net Assets

87,689

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$ 576,075

$ (247,669)

Business Organizations United Individuals Way Fundraising Government Grants Investment Income

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Our Donors

July 1, 2011–June 30, 2012

Companies/Organizations

Individuals

ABS Employees American Snuff Charitable Trust Arawata Garden Club Books from the Past Book Sellers at Laurelwood Blue Bell Creamers L.P. Cargill Inc. City of Memphis Community Foundation of Greater Memphis Columbia Baptist Fellowship CommTrans Cricket Communications, Inc. D/B/A Star Academy Endocrine Clinic Staff Golden Gate Development Corp.

Hastings Entertainment, Inc. Hermitage Chapter, DAR Hilton Worldwide IBM International Paper Foundation Industrial Developments Knights of Columbus Council Lichterman Loewenberg Foundation Memphis Book Club Mid-South Science & Fiction Conventions, Inc. Neshoba Unitarian Universalist Church North Carolina State University Oakland Mills Interfaith Center Orion Federal Credit Union Pfizer Foundation Plough Foundation Scripps Howard Foundation S.T. John M.B. Church Tinder Box 344

Michael Acree Glenda K. Alexander Sharon Ammons Anna Anderson Colin Antaya Timothy Armor Frank J. Armstrong Mary Bandy Thomas Barnett William Batts and Curtis Petty Jonathan H Bennett Anna Marie and Brad Birkedahl John Bogan Denise Bollheimer Joe Boone Nora Boone Mary Bowen Aarti Bowman Maury Bronstein Darlene Brooks Elaine Brown Frances E Brown Lana Brown Mary Lou Brown Lori and Reuben Brunson Sheryl Buchalski Christine Buck Sarah Butts Jody Callahan Alison Campany Joyce Campbell Kerri Campbell Lawrence H.Campbell Robert and Ann Campbell Dawn Cannon-Rech Bryan Capooth Chad Capooth Roseanna Capooth Judy Card Erik and Quinn Carlson Lonzie Carter Maureen Carter Paula D. Cates Cathy Chandler Harpreet Cheema

Michelle Childress Cathering M. Chilton Bridget Ciaramitaro Amanda Clarkson Dorothy Cleaves Cheryl and William Cobb Sean and Beverly Coker Elizabeth Coleman Jan Colgate Sherry Compton Kannon Conway Phoebe Copeland Margaret Cowans Quiana Cox Cheryl Crabb Elaine E. Crews James L. Crews Ann Dahmer Rob Day Bill and Terri Dean Kevin Dean Caitlin Dempsey Kin Dempsey John Denton Lynn Diebold Shannon Dixon Gina Douglas John P. Douglas George Douglas Jr. Steven Douglass Judith Drescher Ben Duke Douglas Ducan Samantha Durant Stacy Early Kelly Earnest Monica Eddie Penny Edwards Jerry and Pam Ehrhart Richard Eiseman Michael and Lois English Robyn Evans Tamara Farmer Herschel Feibelman Rachel Feinman Evanett Fields Leah Fitzpatrick Molly Fitzpatrick

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Beverly Fletcher Daniel J. Flick Kirby and Glenn Floyd Emily Fox-Hill Shelley Fragale Ricky and Renee’ Frazier Bill and Juanita Freeland Megan Fuller Arthur Fulmer Elizabeth Gates Kevin Geiser Janet Gerber Brent Gerhart Margo Germany Maggie Giffin Dennis Gillespie Alvin A. Gordon Beth Graves Brenda Green Bob and Sherry Greene Laura Greinke Wanda Griffin Suzanne Gronemeyer Kristy Gunn Kerri Guyton Sammy and Marilyn Haithcock Debra Hall Holt Hall Ken Hall Sue Hall Dejuanica Hampton Jeff Hamrick Irene Hansen Whitney Harmon Ashley Harper James Hay Sutton Mora and Kerry Hayes Ruth G. Hays Joe Hawes Carolyn S. Head James and Mona Hearn Nicholas Heinz Kristen Herring-Hurd Judith Hicks Rose Ann Hicks Kathy Higgenbotham Joel and Jennifer Hobson

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Our Donors Carol and Buddy Hodge Vicki Hoeglund Ray Hoffman Sarah M. Horton Alicia Howard Dave and Amy Howe Walter Howell Ward Huddleston Annelle and Joseph Huggins Marilyn Hughes Annette Hunt Mark Hutchins Laura F. Ingram Rita B. Ivory Shannon Izquierdo Shirley M. Jack Gwendolyn Jackson Patrick Jackson Janet James Mikea James Karen Jarvis Daisy M. Jefferson Lora Jobe Alana Johnson Caroline Johnson David and Sherry Johnson Kim Johnson Royal Johnson Erica Jones Catherine Joyce John Kaltner Millie Katzen Paula and Sanford Kelsey Holli Kenney Angeline Kern Kevin Kern Thomas L. King Jason Knight Lindsay Krosnes Elizabeth Kulesa Kathy Ladner Janis Lange Casey Lawhead Karen Lawhorn Charles and Mary Beth Lawing Beth and Kye Lee Rene and Roland Lee Bradley and Courtney Leon

July 1, 2011–June 30, 2012

Karl and Heather Lettow Herbert and Marjorie Levy David Lindstrom James Lorensen John and Jessica Lukens George Mabon Katherine L. Malican Suzanne Malone John Marshall Leigh Martin Sharon Martin Ted Martin Frank and Linda McCalla David McCaslin Wilson McCloy Philip McDermott Jackey McDowell Shawn McGhee Elza and Michael McKenna Meghan Medford George Menendez Bryan Moody Carolyn Morgan John Morrison Marian Morrison Hilda Mullen Gail Murry William Neal Philip Newsom David and Teresa Nickel Gary and Aggie Niess Cynthia Nunnally Elaine and David Orland Claire C. Owen John Padvic Ashley Padgett Greg Parham Mrs. R. Patey Ron Patterson Jeff and Terri Peacock Jeanette Peeples Kimberly Perry Ada Person Joyce Pettit Liz Phillips Tammy Phillips Joshua Poag Les and Penny Popow Jo L. Potter

Mark and Kris Prestidge Nancy D. Prillaman Pat Primrose Marilyn Rabinowitz Lynda Raiford Emilie G. Ratner Laurel Reisman Tracy Renfro Greg Renfrow Matthew and Miranda Rhoads Beverly Richardson Kimberly Wood Richardson Thomas Rieman Kimberly Ring Henry and Sarah Ringe Marsha R. Roach Perry Robert Chad Roberts Thomas Robinson Andrew Roland Sheldon Rosengarten John and Katherine Russell Claire Ryan and Susan Patner Harriet Schneider Daudet J. Schreurs Alan Sefton Larry Sefton Dena Selmer Jack and Tricia Seubert Rachel Shankman Mamie Shannon Wayne and Suzanne Shannon Judy Shelton Alayne Shoenfeld Mary Simmons Brenda Smith David Shannon Sparks Dorian Spears Vickie Stafford Annie Lee Stancil Scot Steward Craig Stewart Amanda Stoermer John and Ann Stokes Karla Strickland Gwendolyn Stuckey Deborah Talley

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Amanda Tamburrino Phyllis Tamm David and Janice Tankersley Michael Tauer Carra Taylor Robert and Pat Taylor Michelle Tedrick Sayra Thacker Glen and Shelley Thomas Rebecca Thomas William R. Thompson Tracy Thorton Fred Towler Susan Troutman Paul Trower Jonathan Uhles David Umsted Julie Van Walsem Linda Vance Laura and Steven Veeshart Marjorie Vincent Abhi Vyas Donna Waggener Claudine Walker Wade Walker Anne Webb Gregory and Agnes Webb Alex and Karen Wellford Justin Whitfold Barry White Maggie White Thomas Whitehead Melynda Whitwell Jim Wilder Connie Williams Jeanne Williams Jessica Williams Betty Anne Wilson Betsy Wiseman Barry Wood Doug Wright Rachel Wright Mary Lou Yandell Robert York John Young Robert Young Janet Zimmerman Todd Zoblotsky

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Tributes and Memorials FAITH BARCROFT Frank & Linda McCalla MR. TOM BARNETT Ashley Dacus NANCY BOGATIN Mr. & Mrs. Page Williamson CAROLYN CARNESALE Betsy Wiseman DR. RICHARD DALE CHILDRESS The Endocrine Clinic Staff MOLLY C. CROSBY Arawata Garden Club KEVIN DEAN Ben Duke Carmen & Joey Weaver SARAH F. DINICOLANTONIO Wade Walker KAY M. DUE Roseanne Russell

IN HONOR OF: LOLLY EASLEY Gail Murray & Joe Hawes HEATHER GROSVENOR Kirby & Glenn Floyd BETH GUNN Abhi Vyas & Harpreet Cheema JIM HANAS Henry & Sarah Ringe MR. & MRS. BOB HENDRIX Mr. & Mrs. Greg Weidenhoffer IDRIVE Robyn Evans BOB LAYMAN Hermitage Chapter, DAR ALICIA DENISE LOWE Ashley Padgett SAMUEL K. MOORE David & Teresa Nickel CORINNE NIENHUIS Dr. Arthur W. Nienhuis

MARILYN RABINOWITZ Margo Germany Bradley & Courtney Leon SLOAN & JULIA REHDER Sarah Moore SAVANNAH & ELLA REYNOLDS Christine Buck MOLLIE & GLENN SAXON Ashley Dacus GERRY & LINDA STALEY Mr. & Mrs. Greg Weidenhoffer TERI SULLIVAN-ELMORE Sharon Ammons JUDY TUCKER Mary Lou Brown MITZIE WRIGHT Ashley Dacus EMERSON & GRIFFIN YANDELL Mary Lou Yandell

CAROL L. BECKER Julie Van Walsem DANIEL COPELAND Phoebe Copeland BILLIE BURGIN CRENSHAW Mr. & Mrs. Mike Deaderick KATHERINE SILER DEAN Elsie Bloodworth Terri H. Dean Jerry & Pam Ehrhart James & Mona Hearn Ashley Padgett Marilyn Rabinowitz Glenn & Shelley Thomas Jeanne L. Williams POLLY S. FONTANA Brian W. Meredith DENNIS FREELAND Bill & Juanita Freeland Perveen K. Rustomfram PHYLLIS FULLER Harriet Schneider PEGGY HARWELL Random Readers Book Club LYDIA HOOVER Jeanne L. Williams

IN MEMORY OF: SALLIE R. JEFFRIES Sherry Compton JILL LAHTI Ann Dahmer & Kevin Geiser Suzanne Gronemeyer Partridge Lab - St. Jude ALICIA DENISE LOWE Glenn & Shelley Thomas JOHN MARUHNICH Barbara Dawson Alayne Shoenfeld Jeanne L. Williams DALE MCDERMOTT Philip McDermott MARY LEE MCNEES Jeanette Peeples PHYLLIS HUGHES MENENDEZ George Menendez MILDRED MILES Kathy Ladner GOLDA DECELL MINOR Larry Sefton SOPHIE NWEEIA Irene Hansen PAT REID The Memphis Book Club

HILLARY ROBSON Jim & Elizabeth Duncan Jack & Tricia Seubert ISABEL SLOAN Daudet J. Schreurs MIRIAM SOLOMON Dr. Derene Akins MRS. D. HADLEY STANCIL Joyce S. Campbell Robert & Ann Campbell Columbia Baptist Fellowship Barbara Dawson Michael & Lois English Bob & Sherry Greene Sammy & Marilyn Haithcock Mark Hutchins Gary & Aggie Niess N. C. State University – Electrical & Computer Engineering Dept.

Oakland Mills Interfaith Center Annie Lee Stancil Rebecca Thomas HERBERT TAYLOR, M.D. ABS Employees DEBBIE TUSETH Wayne & Suzanne Shannon

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Tributes and Memorials HOLIDAY HONORARIA IN HONOR OF: DR. DERENE AKINS Carol Beachey & Donald Voth CELIE ALTHOFF Carol Beachey & Donald Voth ALEX & MEGAN AREVADO Whitney Harmon ASHLEY & RYAN BAKER Whitney Harmon RICK BARTL Kevin Dean SARAH JO SMITH Dr. J. Patrick Blankinship & Jonathan Hancock ELSIE BLOODWORTH Kevin Dean Carol & Buddy Hodge BRIAN & MANDY BONNER Greg Renfrow BILL BREEN & DANNY O’TOOLE Greg Renfrow SHELLEE M. BROOKS Gerald Nicholas BETSY BURCH Claire Ryan & Susan Ratner TERESE BUSCHER Catherine M. Chilton WARREN CAMPBELL & WADE HARTSFIELD Kevin Dean ANN CHAMBERS Gerald Nicholas MR. & MRS. H.R. CHILTON Catherine M. Chilton JUSTIN & AMY COULSON Greg Renfrow DEROME COX Gerald Nicholas ASHLEY DACUS Whitney Harmon BARBARA DAUSH Judy Shelton MRS. JODY DEADERICK Margo Germany TERRI H. DEAN Kevin Dean ROBERTA DEWATERS Claire Ryan & Susan Ratner MR. & MRS. EARL DIETERING Laurel Reisman & Ted Martin BARBARA DILLON Lynda Raiford HILLERY EFKEMAN Lynda Raiford

BRANDON & ANDREA EVANS Greg Renfrow RICK & ELIZABETH FERGUSON & FAMILY Judy Shelton MR. & MRS. ROBERT L. FOOT Sarah F. DiNicolantonio VIVIAN GARMON Gerald Nicholas BETTY CAROL GERMANY Margo Germany KRIS GREEN Laurel Reisman & Ted Martin MR. & MRS. BRETT GRINDER Alex & Karen Wellford JOHN HAMILTON Margo Germany SUSAN HANCOCK Dr. J. Patrick Blankinship & Jonathan Hancock TERRY, BILL & J. MORGAN HARTER Judy Shelton RICHARD HASSEN Michelle Tedrick CHRIS HAWK Kevin Dean ANN HENSON Margo Germany BILLIE & JENNIE HUGHLEY Gerald Nicholas FOREST & SCOTT IMORDE Judy Shelton ALAN & CAROLYN JASLOW Claire Ryan & Susan Ratner BOB JOHNSON Darlene Brooks SALLIE D. JOHNSON Heather Lawson JASON & LAURA JUDD David & Teresa Nickel GENE & CAROL KATZ Laurel Reisman & Ted Martin BARBARA & ROY KEATHLEY Alex & Karen Wellford DEBBIE KNIGHT Greg Renfrow JOSEPH & RACHEL KNIGHT Greg Renfrow DRS. ALAN & BETH KURLAND Claire Ryan & Susan Ratner MR. & MRS. SCOTT P. LEDBETTER Alex & Karen Wellford

JOHN LOCHEMES Kevin Dean JEREMY & KIM LOUDENBECK Greg Renfrow CAROL ANN MALLORY & SHARON YOUNGER Laurel Reisman & Ted Martin BRENDA MASCHMEYER Margo Germany THE MCBRIDE FAMILY Greg Renfrow CHARLES MCLARTY Teri Sullivan-Elmore CAROLINE MCQUEEN Heather Lawson MRS. DACHELLE MCVEY Teri Sullivan-Elmore ROBERT & GLORIA MERIWETHER Whitney Harmon MARGARET MILLER Gerald Nicholas T.S. & ANN MITCHELL Darlene Brooks RICHARD & SUZANNE MOORE David & Teresa Nickel LYNDA MORGAN Carol Beachey & Donald Voth MR. & MRS. ED MORROW Annelle & Joseph Huggins ROBIE NELSON Gerald Nicholas MR. & MRS. SCOTT NEWMAN & FAMILY Judy Shelton MCKINLEY & SALLIE NEWSOM Gerald Nicholas DENISE NICHOLAS Gerald Nicholas PAUL NICHOLAS Gerald Nicholas RENE NICKEL David & Teresa Nickel MR. & MRS. LOU PARIS Annelle & Joseph Huggins FELIX PESCE Kevin Dean BROOKS & REBECCA RAMSEY Carol Beachey & Donald Voth GRANT RAY Kevin Dean SLOAN & JULIA REHDER David & Teresa Nickel MURRAY & KAREN RISS Laurel Reisman & Ted Martin

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JAMES & KATIE ROBERTS Greg Renfrow REBECCA ROLLINS Catherine M. Chilton MIKE & GINGER RUSSELL David & Teresa Nickel MR. & MRS. HUGH RYAN Claire Ryan & Susan Ratner FRAN SABBE Margo Germany BILL SHORT Darlene Brooks DR. MICHAEL SIEGEL Claire Ryan & Susan Ratner LUCAS SINGH & RENE CURLEY Greg Renfrow SARAH JO SMITH Dr. J. Patrick Blankinship & Jonathan Hancock JASON SNOW & MATT UPSHAW Whitney Harmon JANET THOMAS Glenn & Shelley Thomas CESAR & MICKEY TORRES Greg Renfrow JONATHON & JANNA TORRES Greg Renfrow DR. CYNTHIA GRANT TUCKER Claire Ryan & Susan Ratner MIMS & LUCY VANZANDT Carol Beachey & Donald Voth MICHELLE VIGLIETTI Laurel Reisman & Ted Martin CHRISTINA & MICHAEL VINSON Whitney Harmon MR. & MRS. ALEX WELLFORD III Alex & Karen Wellford BARRY WHITE & JUSTIN WHITFORD Kevin Dean DRS. RUSSELL & ANITA WIGGINTON Judy Shelton LAUREN & ALEX WILMER Laurel Reisman & Ted Martin IN MEMORY OF: JAMES GIBB JOHNSON Carol Beachey & Donald Voth MRS. D. HADLEY STANCIL Penny Edwards

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In-kind Donors Alchemy Memphis Mark Allen American’s Incredible Pizza Co. Arcade Restaurant Automatic Slims Babcock Gifts Barden Stone Bari David Barker Hallie Bensinger Steve Berger Connie Binkowitz J Patrick Blankship Blue Bell Creameries, L.P. Denise Bollheimer Suzanne Bonefas Booksellers at Laurelwood Bosco’s Charlotte Bray Mary Lou Brown Tyne Brownlow Darlene Brooks Burke’s Book Store, Inc. Buster’s Liquor and Wines Caesars Entertainment Russell Cangelosi Kathleen Carey Celtic Crossing Carly Cianciolo Casandra Clark Celene Clark Emily Coltharp Comcast Comics and Collectibles Jessica Cox Dabbles Hair Company Ashley Dacus Kevin Dean Terri H. Dean Delta Sigma Theta Sarah Dinicolantonio Dogs Rule Day Care and School Lolly Easley Lillian Eaves Eden Spa and Laser Hillery Efkeman

Elvis Presley Enterprises Epic Salon Fedex Debra Fish Sandra Fox Emily Fox-Hill Renee Frazier Adam Gaines Garden District Garden Spas and Pool Gigi’s Cupcakes of Memphis Gill Golf and Games Family Park Grove Grille Brenda Greene Ann Marie Hall Ian Hall Whitney Harmon Hilton Memphis Hilton Worldwide Interim Restaurant and Bar International Paper Foundation Katie Irish Ann Jackson Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae Association Emily A. Keplinger Kevin Kern Bill Kidwell Lindsay Krosnes Allison Furr Lawyer Lenny’s Franchisor LLC Margaret and Milton Lovell Malco Paradiso Malco Theaters Shawn C. Matthews MBI McEwen’s on Monroe Julie McKenna Medtronic Memphis Brooks Museum of Art Memphis College of Art Memphis Daily News Memphis Drum Shop Memphis Flyer Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis Redbirds Mecury Valet Cleaners Joan Messmore Mark Miller Angela Moore John and Kate Morrison Arris Murphy Kimberly Murray Chris Myers DJ Naylor Nexair Opera Memphis Orion Federal Credit Union Orpheum Theatre Kirk Pafford Sandra Palazolo Pavo Salon and Spa Pink Palace Family of Museums Playhouse on the Square Marilyn Rabinowitz Brett Ragsdale Alejandra Ramirez Ray and Baudoin Interior Design Rendezvous Republic Beverage Rhodes College Sekisui Noelle W. Shirley Bert Smythe Soul Fish Café Gwendolyn Stuckey Teri Sullivan Sun Studio Swanky’s Taco Shop Sweet Grass The Bar-B-Q Shop The Children’s Museum of Memphis The Commercial Appeal Patti Tosti Tsunami Twisted Square Art Underground Art Ken Walker WKNO-FM WKNO-TV Pixie Woodall

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We Remember Sadly, this past year one of our students was murdered as he defended himself from an intruder in his home after returning from a class at Literacy Mid-South. James Wilkins, Jr. was a student at LMS for more than 5 years and attended classes regularly every week.

In the mornings James would arrive early by bus and generously help clean up the parking lot, sweep the front entrance, and move the newspapers inside.

Last December, he received the “Most Improved Student” award in his math class.

The entire class wept when James, who had struggled with his math skills, received the award.

James’s determination was admired by those who met him. He was a very special person at Literacy Mid-South, and he is greatly missed. James’s story is a testament to the struggles our adult students can encounter everyday living in unsafe neighborhoods, facing adversity as they strive to better their lives. ■

This year also brought the loss of a Memphis Literacy Council pioneer, Sue Ellen Ray Stancil. Sue was one of the founders of the Memphis Literacy Council in 1974. Because of her selfless dedication to education, thousands of Memphians have learned to read. Born on a Kentucky farm in 1918, Sue came to Memphis in 1971 with her family and soon began working as a substitute teacher in the Memphis City Schools, and as a volunteer juvenile probation officer. On her last birthday, on which she turned 93 years old, Sue wanted to visit Literacy Mid-South. She arrived smiling, with an ever vibrant mind, thrilled to see one of her past students.

The LMS tutor training room has been dedicated to Sue and named in her honor. In a note of gratitude Sue wrote, “I can think of no greater honor that could be given to me than to have the beautiful tutor training room dedicated to me… We are all part of an organization that offers each person the opportunity to serve in his or her area of strength and allows others to serve in theirs.”

Sue was one of two who became the first certified tutor workshop trainers, which she did for 25 years in addition to tutoring individual students weekly. Sue was influential in moving literacy forward in Memphis, and Literacy MidSouth would not be what it is today without her guidance as a founder, board member, tutor, and her inspiration that lives on, motivating us all to improve our community.

Sue Stancil left an amazing legacy. ■

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