FAQs

For a more detailed history of LVA, order a copy of A Way With Words, by Ruth Colvin, founder – Call toll-free 1-800-LVA-8812.
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• 1962
  Literacy Volunteers was founded by Ruth Colvin in Syracuse, NY. Mrs. Colvin worked with professional reading consultants to develop a tutor training workshop which would equip volunteers to tutor adults and teens in basic reading and writing.

  The movement soon spread to other New York State communities as the effectiveness of the program became widely recognized. Since its beginnings, LVA received support from individuals, foundations, and corporations. In 1967, Literacy Volunteers was chartered in New York State as a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation with a volunteer board of directors.

• 1971
  The U.S. Office of Education provided a three-year grant for expansion to Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York City.

• 1972
  The total number of LVA affiliates reached 40.

  The total number of LVA affiliates reached 40. Literacy Volunteers, Inc. changed its name to Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. (LVA) to emphasize its growing aspirations �to foster increased literacy in the United States.�

  The publication and sale of materials emerged as a major focus for the organization as LVA sought to share its expertise in the literacy field and become financially self-sufficient.

• 1974
  The English as a Second Language tutor training program was developed in response to requests from community programs.

  A grant from the U.S. Department of Education to train Adult Basic Education staff in 26 states provided LVA with opportunities for expansion throughout the country.

• 1976
  The National Law Enforcement Assistance Administration awarded two grants to LVA for work in New York, Maine, and Connecticut state correctional facilities.

• 1980
  Grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities funded LVA�s development of a new reading series for learners. This unique project trained humanities specialists to write in simplified form and adult new readers served as editors.

• 1981
  The National Coalition for Literacy, with LVA as a founding member, formed to increase public awareness of literacy and to increase resources to fund adult education and literacy programs.

• 1982
  The total number of LVA affiliates reached 125.

  LVA's first edition of Student Involvement Guidelines began a concerted effort to include LVA students in all aspects of literacy programs.

• 1984
  LVA established a National Advisory Council, a group of national leaders in business and government.

  To expand LVA�s outreach and support to new communities, experienced literacy practitioners were recruited as Volunteers in Technical Assistance (V.I.T.A.s) to assist in developing programs throughout the country.

• 1985
  Barbara Bush, wife of then-Vice President George Bush, accepted the position of Honorary Chair of the National Advisory Council, on which she still serves.

• 1986
  Creation of the Basic Reading Workshop video facilitated training of a larger number of volunteers in a more flexible manner.

  LVA developed the Tutoring Small Groups Handbook through a grant from the Central New York Community Foundation.

• 1987
  The total number of LVA affiliates exceeded 250.

  LVA began to work with major corporations in cause-related marketing ventures.

• 1988
  Kraft Foods, Inc. funded a two-year LVA Urban Literacy Development Project.

• 1989
  The total number of LVA affiliates exceeded 350.

  A Reading to Children video training module was developed with support from Reader's Digest and CIGNA.

  The Exxon Corporation funded a national evaluation study to identify factors which contribute to adult learners� progress and the success of LVA programs.

• 1990
  The complete revision and adaptation to video of the English as a Second Language Tutor Training Workshop combined small group and one-to-one instruction techniques. This project was made possible by support from GTE.

  The Coors Brewing Co., in collaboration with Laubach Literacy Action, launched the National Volunteer Literacy Campaign Training Project, with a goal of training hundreds of tutor trainers, ultimately reaching over 500,000 new adult learners.

  LVA's commitment to reaching the prison population led to the development of special training segments for the Basic Reading Workshop for practitioners in criminal justice education.

• 1991
  The GTE Foundation, working with LVA, made family literacy a national focus by funding family literacy programs at sites across the country, providing employee involvement, and producing a handbook, How to Add Family Literacy to Your Program.

  A three-year grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation enabled LVA to pilot test an affiliate self-evaluation process and to expand the capacity of the LVA network.

• 1992
  Maintaining the Balance: A Guide to 50/50 Management was published and adopted as LVA's management philosophy at all levels of the organization.

  LVA formed the National Student Advisory Board (NSAB). Its mission is to promote and advance student organizational involvement throughout the LVA network.

  LVA celebrated its 30th anniversary with "A 30 Star Salute to Literacy," a gala hosted by Creative Artists Agency at their Beverly Hills headquarters, with Jeopardy's Alex Trebek as master of ceremonies.

• 1993
  The first LVA/GTE Family Literacy Institute was held in conjunction with the LVA national conference.

  The seventh edition of LVA's basic manual, TUTOR (Techniques Used in the Teaching of Reading) was released. This major revision emphasizes tutoring as a collaborative process and the early introduction of writing skills into the learning process.

• 1994
  A U.S. Department of Labor grant enabled LVA to develop a national strategic plan for the provision of workforce literacy services through LVA affiliates. LVA Works: A Guide to Workplace Education was published.

  Ferrero, U.S.A., through its brand, Tic Tac® breath mints, created the Incredible Reading Rally to increase national awareness of adult literacy.

  An LVA office was opened in Washington, D.C., establishing a full-time commitment to federal public policy advocacy and lobbying.

• 1995
  The first annual Student Leadership Institute was held in conjunction with LVA�s national conference, to train adult literacy students to serve as spokespersons for LVA. The Institute was funded by a gift from the Imo and Roy Sundin Trust.

  A five-year LVA Strategic Plan was put into action after a year of extensive research and study of the total organization, carried out with the pro bono assistance of Bain & Co., an internationally respected management consulting firm.

  LVA launched its first World Wide Web site through the Ohio Literacy Resource Center at Kent State University.

• 1996
  The Incredible Reading Rally, LVA�s nationwide signature event, was launched in 10 pilot sites across the country.

• 1997
  LVA celebrated its 35th anniversary!

  The LVA Board of Directors approved the LVA Accreditation Initiative. It was the first national program to establish and implement rigorous and mandatory program quality standards for its members. A program of intense training and technical assistance prepared LVA affiliates to become accredited.

• 1998
  The GTE Foundation increased its commitment to adult literacy and LVA through a $600,000 three-year grant to fund the LVA/GTE Family Literacy and Technology Initiative.

  Former President and Mrs. George Bush presented the opening keynote address at the LVA conference in Houston, Texas.

  With the GTE Foundation�s support, LVA launched its revamped website: www.literacyvolunteers.org .

• 1999
  The Yellow Pages Publisher�s Association made an unprecedented commitment to adult literacy through a $100,000 per year grant in support of LVA Accreditation and a multi-year, multi-million dollar public awareness campaign: the GET AN IDEA™ America Tour.

• 2000
  The first Accreditation site surveys began in January. The LVA Board of Directors approved the first program to achieve Accreditated status: the East Texas Literacy Council.

  LVA launched the 2000 Reasons America Should Read public awareness campaign, inviting people to submit online their favorite reason to read.