Dear friend,
We’re reaching out today because Literacy Volunteers and the students we serve need your help.
On Wednesday, we received word that our grant funding from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has been frozen indefinitely. At the same time, we heard that the deadline for another federal grant we rely on has been postponed while they determine if they will have funds to distribute at all. And, as you’ve probably seen in the news, the Department of Education, another critical source of funding, is currently under direct threat.
In total, one-third of our annual budget is now on the line. If that funding is lost or continues to be stalled indefinitely, it will be crippling.
As board members, we committed to serving Literacy Volunteers because we share a few key beliefs:
- That our students fill vital roles in our community, and their education only makes our community stronge
- That everyone, regardless of background, deserves the opportunity to thrive
- That those who are preparing for citizenship should have support in the process
And, through the years, it has been clear that the Charlottesville-Albemarle community shares those beliefs: with community support, this organization has served this region for four decades, providing literacy services to thousands of students. Those students have gone on to start families, gain citizenship, get promotions, volunteer for other nonprofits, and become our friends and neighbors.
Our ability to continue this work is now at risk, as we stare down the very real possibility of a gutted budget.
We are asking you today to step up to help our students — students like Greta, who is studying to be a nurse and plays in the Charlottesville Symphony; like Yemi, who volunteers as a community health organizer; like Ruth, who organized a yard sale for Hurricane Helene victims; and like Dildora, who obtained her certified nursing assistants license here, after working as an oncologist in her home country.
We know that many of you donated to our recent matching gift campaign. Thank you. With your support, we were able to meet our goal. We appreciate your support and your understanding of this ongoing potentially devastating situation, and yet another request for your support.
We hope that you will join us in ensuring that Literacy Volunteers continues to operate at full capacity, providing vital services and enriching our community by enabling our neighbors to achieve their goals through literacy.
You can donate here, or mail a check to 233 4th St NW, Box L, Charlottesville, 22903. Please also consider donating stock as the private sector continues to do well as the nonprofit sector is decimated.
Thank you for making a difference for those we serve,
The board of Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville-Albemarle
Portia Boggs, Board President
MaryLewis Meador, Board Vice-President
Robierre Nderitu, Board Treasurer
Peter Drake, Board Secretary
Achla Marathe
Helen Cauthen
Larry Peppers
Bitsy Waters
Esra Yavuz
Tina Morrison
PS. If you want to help in other ways, you can write or call your representatives in Congress and ask them to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which is the program that funds our Department of Education grant!
