A message from Joyelle, Executive Director

As we take a look back on our fiscal year 2021, which ended on June 30th, I am so excited to share with you all we were able to accomplish with your support. We realize that the past year has been challenging for all of us, with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting our families in ways we could not imagine. Despite these challenges, our adult learners still had dreams and goals that hinged on their ability to learn the literacy skills they needed to launch them into their desired realms of success. Together, our Board of Directors, staff, partners, and volunteer advisors determined that we would rally and developed new ways of delivering our literacy tutoring services. 

To keep everyone safe, we embraced the task of launching a virtual learning program where tutoring was conducted in online spaces instead of face-to-face. Adding to this challenge was the lack of access to computers and internet connectivity faced by many of our learners. Thanks to several of our funders and partners, including Wells Fargo, Bernardine Franciscan Sister Foundation, and the Peninsula Regional Education Program, we were able to purchase 25 Chromebooks and hotspots, receive access to online adult literacy platforms, and purchase a Zoom subscription for our volunteer tutors and learners to utilize. At the end of the year, our 132 volunteer tutors logged more than 4300 hours of teaching our committed learners the skills they need in English, math, and yes, digital literacy!

Below, I have included more detail on our learners and the results of the hard work put in by our staff, learners, and volunteers. However, none of it would be possible without the continued support of our donors, supporters, and friends. At a time when families were stretched in so many ways, you remembered our mission, and we cannot thank you enough for remaining committed to helping us reach the more than 30,000 of our Peninsula neighbors with the literacy skills they need to be more effective in their lives and communities. Because of you, Milton was able to improve his math literacy scores two entire levels, all while adjusting to a new digital learning environment! We are so proud of Milton and grateful to you for the support that helps make his literacy goals attainable. Here's to another amazing year!


Joyelle Saunders
Executive Director