Bonita Springs
Cape Coral Fort Myers www.literacygulfcoast.com
Lehigh Acres
Annual Report 2012-2013
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Our Mission: To assist adults and children to acquire the literacy skills necessary to improve their quality of life
Our Beliefs: ď ś We believe in the power of literacy to improve the lives of our students, their families, communities and society. ď ś We believe in providing our students with the highest quality of literacy education and related services where respect, integrity, inquiry, creativity and diversity contribute to individual achievement and the transformation of lives and communities. ď ś We believe in the power of tutors and our partners to make a difference in the lives of our students, helping them to reach their full potential.
History/Facts Literacy Council was formed in 1989. Literacy educational services include English language, conversation, reading, writing, pronunciation, computer classes, GED readiness study and U.S. Citizenship classes; the Carol DeJoy Moms and Tots Family Literacy Program and worksite literacy. The Literacy Council employs three full-time employees and 12 part-time employees. The average cost to teach a student English is less than $200 per year. The current operating budget is approximately $500,000. Tutors and volunteers contribute time that is valued at excess of $1 million. Around a third of our funding comes from United Way, one third from individual donations and a final third from grants. The Literacy Council receives no government funding. The Board of Directors currently includes 14 members. Our organization includes the Board and four standing committees: executive (officers), finance, marketing, program, and technology – with a combination of board, staff, volunteers and operating staff and tutors. The Board has a long term strategic plan and yearly objectives.
Serving as a United Way Resource House host agency in Bonita Springs, we partner with over twenty-five agencies. Some partners include Goodwill, Hope Hospice, Good Wheels, ACT, Bonita Assistance, Healthy Start, Café of Life, Catholic Charities, Family Health Centers, Red Cross, School District’s Early Head Start, FGCU, local health care providers, area churches and city facilities, libraries and area banks. We partner with many businesses throughout the area in the following ways: we offer classes/tutoring for their employees; we partner for special events and provide partner companies with visibility on our website.
Accomplishments/Special Events 2012-2013 Summer (July-September 2012) Literacy Council Gulf Coast Fort Myers office opened at the East United Way House on Palm Beach Boulevard, bringing us closer to the large Hispanic population in the East Fort Myers corridor. Our Data Manager serves as the Council manager for programs there. This is another example of our partnerships with other United Way agencies. 27 tots graduate from Bonita Springs and Fort Myers Carol DeJoy Moms & Tots Family Literacy Program. A new partnership formed with FGCU Spanish professors to offer their student opportunities for credits in collaboration with the Council. Advanced FGCU students gave oral Spanish presentations to our evening students. Intermediate students also worked with the Council. The work with Literacy Council Gulf Coast was written into the class syllabus. Fall (October-December 2012) Literacy Council Gulf Coast Women’s Committee formed and inaugural meetings held. Legacy Appreciation Bistro event held at the Council.
Winter (January-March 2013) Big Rig Books began children and adult book giveaway partnership with the Council. Annual winter in-service tutor training held at Council offices. Susan served on a regional panel hosted by the United Way and Southwest Florida Community Foundation, to discuss the merger process, highlighting the process and results. Norris Fine Furniture, in conjunction with Barnes and Noble Booksellers, held its first “The Writer’s Domain” event in the Fort Myers showroom to benefit the Literacy Council. Proceeds for the Council included $2,323. United Way invited Literacy Council Gulf Coast to present its Kids+ Lifelong Learning program to the Hendry County School Board to explore the literacy needs in Hendry County. 10th Annual Literacy Legacy Breakfast fundraiser held at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort on March 1, 2013. Over $118,000 in donations received. Kathy Anderson, Moms & Tots Coordinator was honored by the Literacy Council Gulf Coast at the annual Good Wheels, Inc. Recognition Luncheon. Spring (April-June 2013) Annual Tutor/Volunteer recognition luncheon held at the Council to honor volunteers’ service to the organization and its students.
Women’s Committee hosted a shopping event at Chico’s Family Store. Proceeds included $533. Edison College Partnership began with Literacy Council Gulf Coast to explore ways to expand Kids+ Lifelong Learning program to reach remedial college students in danger of dropping out due to limitations in English language comprehension and college level writing ability. Literacy Council Gulf Coast awarded $6,399 in a Gannett Foundation Community Action Grant for the Kids+ Lifelong Learning program at area Title I schools. Literacy Council Gulf Coast met with Senator Marco Rubio’s staff regarding immigration reform to begin a proactive working relationship. United Way increased our annual allocation from $158,000 to $165,000. Annual Accomplishments: Enrollment in three of our Moms & Tots programs, Leitner Creek, Manna, and Interfaith, has doubled. Literacy Council Gulf Coast has secured enough tutors for our Goodwill and Tice Moms & Tots programs, which has improved the instruction and has allowed consistency of instructors for our students. ESL classes offered at FGCU for employees of the university. GED preparation classes offered with childcare provided. In Partnership with the Lee County School District, our Kids+ Lifelong Learning program taught English to 849
students at 15 area Title I schools. Among the many benefits of the program, the schools report increased volunteerism by the parents. This program has grown tremendously from one school in the 2011-2012 school year.  15 schools (listed below) offered 42 classes per week. 602 adults and 247 children studied during the 2012-2013 school year. o o o o o o o o
Bonita Middle School East Lee County High School Edgewood Academy Harns Marsh Elementary Headstart Parent University J. Colin English Elementary Lehigh Acres Elementary North Fort Myers Arts Academy
o o o o o o o
Orange River Elementary Orangewood Elementary River Hall Elementary Sunshine Elementary Tice Elementary Treeline Elementary Villas Elementary
Active Tutors and Students FY 2000 FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013
Students 141 277 511 776 962 1,252 1,379 1,549 1,752 1,797 1,957 2,554 3,246 3,301
Tutors 133 146 304 337 393 419 490 594 563 549 543 599 830 816
Group Programs Active Group Classes
Teachers
Students
11 Moms & Tots Family Literacy Classes:
36 volunteers 5 PT paid
1,410 mothers and children
115 Group Classes
281 volunteers
1,891 adults
Manna Christian (1 BS) Old 41 (2 BS) San Carlos Park (2) Fort Myers (5) Lehigh (1)
Moms and Tots Adult students: Total students:
1,410 1,891 3,301
Other individual and small group classes are held throughout Lee County and North Naples.
Worksite Programs 7 Active Programs Collier’s Reserve Imperial Golf Course Bentley Village Shadow Wood West Bay Club Pelican Sound Cypress Cove
Tutors
Students
17 4 11 39 7 20 6
14 4 11 27 17 23 10
Seven active worksite programs had 104 tutors and 106 students. Pelicans Nest will begin a new program this fall and four sites have undergone changes in management and volunteer coordinators resulting in individual tutors relocating to offer students instruction at the Literacy Council offices.
Student Accomplishments According to the 2012-13 Student Survey: a majority are meeting goals to:
Be able to communicate with others in English. To learn to speak English to get a good/better job. To help children with their homework. To get a GED. To go to college. To become a U.S. citizen (in 2012, 16 students became citizens).
From our students:
“We learn so much vocabulary, phonics, and grammar.” “I don’t feel as scared as I used to now that I practice my English in class.”
According to our annual study, 100% of Moms and Tots graduates began school average or above average as compared to their classmates. Over 98% of students are satisfied or very satisfied with the school.
Student Assessments ď ś The first two rounds of the Assessment Refinement Initiative were completed for all students in the Moms and Tots program and those in one worksite literacy program. Students were assessed in 2012 and one year later in 2013 to determine progress. Students showed decisive improvements in their levels of English language expertise. ďƒ˜ Moms, in particular, have lower levels of ability due to limited education. Many have never been to school and are illiterate in their own languages. As a result, when entering our program, they begin at the low beginner stage. After one year, they showed dramatic results given their educational challenges and family responsibilities. Moms & Tots Family Literacy Program 2012-2013
ďƒ˜ The West Bay worksite program has been operating for one full year and these employee/students began at a higher level than the moms. Their results were equally dramatic. West Bay Worksite Program 2012-2013
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our volunteer tutors and staff, this assessment piece shows that our students are indeed improving their abilities as a result of study at the Literacy Council. Their life challenges create many obstacles to learning, but for those who are regular attendees, the results are dramatic and their lives are truly improved. We are thrilled with the growth our students have exhibited.
Value of a volunteer’s work Independent Sector, in 2012, calculates the value of volunteer work at $22.14 per hour (Based on average hourly, nonsupervisory wages + 12% fringe benefits). Volunteers gave approximately 84,300 hours to students and the Council in FY 2012-13. 84,300 hours x $22.14 = $1,866,402
Literacy Benefits Everyone In our economy:
Adults improve job performance Adults improve job status Adults make informed purchases Our community benefits from a more educated workforce
In our schools:
Adults participate in their children’s education Children start school ready to learn The school district saves time and money when children arrive with necessary skills
In society:
Adults learn to assimilate to the American culture. Our community benefits when families become part of our cultural fabric.
Bonita Springs
Cape Coral
Fort Myers
®
Lehigh Acres
Improving Lives through Literacy