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Happy National Volunteer Month!
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April is National Volunteer Month, and while we deeply appreciate our volunteers every single day, this month gives us a special opportunity to spotlight the vital work they do within our communities. During the 2023-2024 fiscal year, 391 tutors provided an incredible 34,938 hours of instruction to 549 students! đđź
Our volunteers are so much more than tutorsâtheyâre true superheroes of literacy, community building, and of making a difference in many ways. Here are just a few of the thoughtful names we use to describe them:
đ Bridge Builders: Breaking down barriers between cultures and languages, they stand beside students as they courageously connect to new opportunities and, for immigrants, build a sense of belonging in their new country. Take Anne as an example:
When my schedule opened up 17 years ago, calling up Literacy Together was one of the first things I did. My initial motivation was to give back. My grandfather and great-grandparents came to Philadelphia from Poland, knowing no English, and people helped them. I wanted to return the favor. ~ Anne, ESOL tutor
đâĄđŚ Transformation Agents: Reflecting their studentsâ determination, they are essential partners in each learnerâs vision for a brighter future. They reveal the profound power of meaningful human connection through mutual growth. Martha's experience says it all:
I learned that once you are âadoptedâ into an Afghan family, you are accepted, just as you are, and then taken care of. I learned the difference between education as a privilege (to Elaha) and education as a thing to do (for me). What a world of difference and quite different results! I learned how privileged my point of view is and the many things I take for granted. ~ Martha, ESOL tutor
đŞđź Advocates: With every session, they ignite a sense of confidence and possibility, helping students develop the tools to unleash their potential and turn their goals into reality. Ray and Aimee expressed this beautifully:Â
Through hard work and perseverance, Iris has accomplished something she thought was impossible: read an entire book. This is only her first goal in building her reading skills. Congratulations, Iris! ~ Ray, Adult Literacy tutor
I love seeing students go from thinking this (English) is a skillset they lack to learning that learning is a skillset they have. ~ Aimee, former ESOL tutor and Literacy Together board member
To all our incredible volunteers: Thank you for your time, energy, and heart. Your dedication changes lives and builds a stronger, more connected community. Youâre changing the world, one lesson at a time! đ
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April 29th is the "Eric Weigel Day of Kindness + Gratitude"
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Eric was a local young man dedicated to kindness, learning, and adventure. Tragically, he lost his life in a kayaking accident on the North Fork of the Payette River in Idaho just weeks after his graduation. He was a voracious reader and practiced gratitude daily, taking time each evening to acknowledge what he was thankful for. Letâs honor Ericâs legacy by spreading kindness and gratitude! đŚ
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2025 Authors for Literacy: Time is running out!Â
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Don't delay! Our 16th annual Authors for Literacy Fundraiser is on May 29, featuring New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci, whose latest novel, Strangers in Time, has just been released!  Get your copy at Malaprop's! đđ˝ď¸ đˇ
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⢠The evening will feature testimonials from the students and staff at Literacy Together and a keynote address from David Baldacci. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. for mixing and mingling and heavy hors dâoeuvres.
⢠Youâll hear from our team about the work we do to support more than 7,200 individuals throughout Buncombe County. Our seated program begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. Weâll close the evening with a book signing managed by Malapropâs Bookstore!
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Corporate Partner Spotlight: Hunter Subaru
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We're delighted to spotlight one of our Platinum Corporate Sponsors this month:Â Hunter Subaru! We had the pleasure of speaking with Kate Redmond, Marketing and BDC Director, about why Hunter Subaru chose to support Literacy Together:
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What does literacy mean to you or your team at Hunter Subaru, and why is it something you care about?
 At Hunter Subaru, literacy means empowerment. Itâs the foundation for opportunityâhelping individuals of all ages build confidence, access education, secure employment, and engage fully in their communities. We believe that reading and comprehension are not just academic skills, but tools for lifelong success.
As a company deeply rooted in community values, we care about literacy because weâve seen firsthand how it transforms lives. Whether itâs supporting local schools, providing books through Subaru Loves Learning, or partnering with organizations that promote educational equity, our commitment stems from a belief that everyone deserves the chance to learn, grow, and thrive. By investing in literacy, weâre investing in the future of our neighbors, our workforce, and our shared community.
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We are grateful to Hunter Subaru for supporting our community through literacy. Their support has helped make our Authors for Literacy Fundraiser possible. Thank you!Â
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| Thank you, New Belgium!Â
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We're excited to announce that Literacy Together has been chosen for a second year to be a beneficiary of the New Belgium Brewing Liquid Center Annual Donations Program!Â
Guest donations are pooled and awarded to WNC area nonprofits throughout the year. Each beneficiary is an organization working for positive social change and connected to causes the Liquid Center team is passionate about supporting. We are SO honored and grateful! THANKS! Learn more about how New Belgium gives back to the community.
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Save the date for The Whale's Spelling Bee!
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The Whale has chosen us (again!) as their nonprofit for May. They'll be doing round-up donations for us all throughout the month and organizing a Spelling Bee to highlight our work!
When: May 13th at 7:00 pm
Where: The Whale West, 507 Haywood Rd #10, Asheville, NC 28806
There is no entry fee!
The Whale hosted another fun edition of the Whaleastic Grown-Up Book Fair last week, and there was a raffle to benefit Literacy Together. Thank you to everyone who participated and bought raffle tickets, as well as the vendors who donated items as prizes. Thank you to The Whale for their continuous support and all they do in the community! đł đť đâĽď¸
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Wonderful update from J.K., the tutor of an ESOL student
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In the past, her husband had handled all interactions with Asheville City Schools. However, he could not attend this spring's Parent-Teacher conferences due to work responsibilities. As a result, she (accompanied by me) took on the responsibility.
Initially, she was very anxious about meeting with the girls' teachers. Apparently, teachers in her home country are known to be quite strict, and she firmly believed she would struggle to communicate with or understand them. Given that she could not attend school in her own country, the prospect was truly daunting.
However, she confidently stepped into the pre-K classroom. After being given a tour by her youngest daughter, she sat at the teacherâs desk and had a lovely, informative conversation about her child's first experiences at school. She thoroughly enjoyed learning about her daughter's progress and development.
Encouraged by this experience, she has expressed interest in attending future school meetings. This was a significant step in embracing her parenting responsibilities in her new country and realizing that she can successfully communicate with and understand authority figures.
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| We continue to spread the love for books!
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While Dolly Partonâs Imagination Library (DPIL) in Buncombe County is at capacity and cannot accept NEW registrations, we continue to provide books to as many children as our state funding allows (about 5,500).
Also, do you remember the book drive we organized after Hurricane Helene hit our community? We still have many books in our office! This month, some of those went to Unete, a fantastic nonprofit doing incredible work in the community and led by the legendary Argentine-American Norma Brown! We hope the families enjoy these books! Thank you, Judy, for picking them up! đ
We are very grateful for everyone's kindness but are not accepting more book donations đ
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We are excited to announce some new graphics created by our UNCA intern, Julie Pitois. We've got stickers, magnets, and some very fun t-shirts to choose from. Support Literacy Together today by buying our new merchandise!Â
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Please help us spread the word about our need for volunteers!
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Our ESOL Program has a waiting list of over 70 people, some of whom have been waiting months for a tutor! We host two monthly orientation meetings, and everyone is welcome to join us, from prospective volunteer tutors to community members to local business owners and nonprofits wanting to learn more about Literacy Together's work.Â
This month, we welcomed participants from Tunisia, Portugal, Colorado, and Buncombe County! This is what one participant said after the meeting:
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I learned lots of statistics that I found truly shocking. That really helped to set the scope of the need!Â
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| Upcoming Online Orientation Meetings
Tuesday, May 13th, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Thursday, Â May 15th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
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| Your generosity provides literacy services to our neighbors of every age.
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