ProLiteracy Provides Relief to Hurricane Victims

ProLiteracy Worldwide is working to help provide relief to the hurricane victims. To find out how you can help and for more information, click here.

The executive director of ProLiteracy Worldwide's domestic programs met with directors of several adult literacy programs impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita during a trip to the Gulf Coast area the week of September 26.

Peter Waite of ProLiteracy America and representatives from the Louisiana Coalition for Literacy, the Literacy Alliance of New Orleans, and a number of Louisiana service providers sponsored a meeting of area programs and support organizations in the area to determine how the organizations can promote and coordinate assistance efforts. Waite also visited the Jackson County Literacy Council in Pascagoula, Mississippi. To see results of that trip, click here.

ProLiteracy has taken several actions to assist programs in rebuilding:
-- ProLiteracy has established a special Katrina Fund to accept donations earmarked for rebuilding adult literacy programs in the affected region. The Commission on Adult Basic Education and the National Council of Directors of Adult Education are assisting in this effort.

-- ProLiteracy's publishing division, New Readers Press, will offer materials to affected programs and for programs assisting evacuees.

-- ProLiteracy is partnering with Reading is Fundamental to collect and distribute books and materials.

-- ProLiteracy's website will maintain a resource page with links to partnering organizations and outlining ways parties interested in offering assistance can become involved. The website also will include a page where stories, needs, and ideas from the network concerning recovery efforts can be posted. For more information, click here.

"We want to thank everyone who has offered assistance and ideas to date and look forward to sharing with you more about the rebuilding process. We will be sure to keep everyone updated on Katrina recovery activities," Waite said.

About ProLiteracy Worldwide
ProLiteracy Worldwide, the largest organization of community-based literacy programs in the world, represents 1,200 local program affiliates in all 50 states and 103 partner programs in 54 developing countries. Through this extensive global reach, ProLiteracy provides the training, technical assistance, materials, and other support that local literacy programs need to assist adults and their families to acquire or improve their literacy skills. These affiliates and partners work with more than 350,000 adult literacy students each year. ProLiteracy Worldwide has its headquarters in Syracuse, N.Y.