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Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. Endorses GTE Reads and "Check Into Literacy!"

We at Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA) understand the power of cooperative effort. On a daily basis, we work together to solve the problems and improve the lives of those with low literacy skills. We have seen how individuals, when offered the means and opportunity, can come together to make important things happen.

GTE�s �Check Into Literacy!� program provides the means and opportunity for 16 million individuals to contribute to solving the literacy problem. In fact, "Check Into Literacy!" is a sterling example of how a large company can use its size and scope to reach individuals on a personal level. This initiative encourages individuals to become benefactors, and helps other individuals to become literate Americans.

We commend GTE on its on its long-standing commitment to the cause of literacy. For a number of years, numerous literacy organizations around America have benefited from millions of dollars in GTE-generated contributions, and from the many hours that GTE employees have donated to improve literacy in our country.

Literacy affects nearly every aspect of our daily lives. It determines our ability to obtain good jobs, interact with society, and teach our children. What�s more, our increasingly technology-based culture, including the new Internet economy, is founded on a literate society. But those who have low or very low literacy skills will be left out. Companies who support literacy programs - companies like GTE - have realized that the question of access to technology is moot if one does not have the tools to use that technology.

We hope that the launch of "Check Into Literacy!" and the subsequent work of GTE Reads will encourage other companies to join GTE in supporting organizations such as LVA, the National Institute of Literacy, Reading Is Fundamental, the National Center for Family Literacy and the National Alliance of Urban Literacy Coalitions.

We join GTE in endorsing the work of these organizations, and encourage GTE�s telephone customers to participate in the "Check Into Literacy!" program. One dollar a month is a small price to pay to give the gift of reading to another person.