Posts tagged as:

Literacy

Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council Changes Lives

December 7, 2009

Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council and two of its former students recently received national recognition for their efforts. Earlier this fall, CBS Sunday Morning featured GPLC alumni Walter Long and LaVonne McKinstry in a segment about the problem of illiteracy in our country. The segment highlighted a shocking statistic: one in seven adults in the U.S. are “functionally illiterate,” meaning that they lack the reading or English language skills needed to function effectively in everyday life.

Walter and LaVonne hid their problem from their friends, co-workers and even their families, a common occurrence among adults with low literacy skills. Both felt shame and embarrassment and experienced limitations in their lives. Each came to Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council with unique goals: Walter wanted to be able to read to his then 4-year-old daughter and LaVonne wanted to become more active in her church and get a better job.

With Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council’s help they accomplished these goals and much more. You can meet Walter and LaVonne personally and view the CBS Sunday Morning segment at www.gplc.org/multimedia.cfm

Tagged as: Education/Training, Literacy, Pittsburgh PA Non Profit

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CBS, Sunday Morning, Features GPLC on Sept. 27th

September 21, 2009

in Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council

Don’t miss Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council‘s first-ever appearance on a national news program. Be sure to watch or set your DVR for 9 a.m. on Sunday, September 27 when several GPLC students will be featured in a story about literacy on the CBS news program Sunday Morning. A network production crew, featuring 60 Minutes correspondent Byron Pitts, came in early September to shoot footage at the Downtown Center and conduct interviews with GPLC alumni Walter Long and LaVonne McKinstry at work and at home. They also talked to students at The Neighborhood Academy.

The national attention is the result of Pitts’ own struggles with reading and his high regard for this organization. Pitts, who did not learn to read until he was 12 years old, was introduced to GPLC several years ago when he spoke at their 2006 Leaders for Literacy Luncheon. Since then, he’s addressed more than a dozen literacy organizations around the country and maintains that GPLC rises above the crowd. His personal journey is documented in a new memoir titled Stepping Out On Nothing.

Again, the CBS Sunday Morning broadcast featuring GPLC is September 27^th at 9 a.m.

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PS: The 2009 Leaders for Literacy Luncheon featuring author David Baldacci is just around the corner, October 14^th. Get you tickets today at http://www.gplc.org/luncheon.cfm

or contact Maria Polinsky at mpolinsky@gplc.org

Tagged as: Literacy

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Leaders for Literacy Luncheon Will Feature David Baldacci

July 13, 2009

in Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council

Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council is proud to have David Morehouse, President of our Stanley Cup Champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, as Honorary Chairperson for the 22nd annual Leaders for Literacy Luncheon on October 14^th at the Omni William Penn Hotel. Guest speaker is bestselling author David Baldacci, who has published seventeen novels, including his newest release, First Family. His books have been translated into 45 languages, and sold in more than 80 countries. All of his books have been national and international bestsellers, and over 75 million copies are in print worldwide.

The Leaders for Literacy Luncheon GPLC’s largest fundraising event and last it attracted more than 300 guests and raised a record $130,000. Proceeds from the event help men and women in our community gain the reading, math, English language, computer and workplace skills necessary to move from welfare to work, attend college, support their children in school, and become active in our community.

Tickets for the luncheon are $80. A limited number of speaker-only balcony seats are available for $25. Corporate sponsorship and advertising opportunities are also available. For information, contact Maria Polinsky at mpolinsky@gplc.org or visit www.gplc.org/luncheon.cfm.