Charlotte, NC: Augustine Literacy Project®-Charlotte has received $100,000 from the Women’s Impact Fund to expand their tutoring program in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. The award was announced at the annual meeting of the Women’s Impact Fund on May 11, 2016 at Foundation for the Carolinas. A total of $437,000 was awarded to five local non-profits in the areas of Arts and Culture, Education, Health, Human Services and Environment.
Since 2005, the Augustine Literacy Project®-Charlotte has improved the reading, writing and spelling skills of low-income children who struggle with literacy by providing free, long-term, one-on-one instruction from highly trained volunteer tutors. The Augustine Literacy Project is the only literacy organization in Charlotte that provides volunteers with over 42 hours of training in a multi-sensory, research-based approach to reading instruction. During the 2015-16 school year, Augustine tutors are serving 110 Charlotte-Mecklenburg students and are expected to provide approximately 4,000 hours of volunteer service valued at $200,000.
“We are overwhelmed by the support of the Women’s Impact Fund. This grant will enable the Augustine Literacy Project®-Charlotte to double the number of children who will experience reading success and hope for a bright future. Additionally, it will expand our capacity to meet the literacy needs of even greater numbers of at-risk children in the future.” –Alison S. Houser, Director
Since 2003, the Women’s Impact Fund has amplified the significant role women play in philanthropy. Its mission is to maximize women’s leadership in philanthropy by engaging and educating members, increasing charitable contributions and strengthening communities through the impact of collective giving. With over 400 members, the organization has emerged as one of the largest women’s collective giving groups in the country and continues to create powerful change in Mecklenburg County. To date, the Women’s Impact Fund has made 59 grants totaling more than $4.6 million. For more information, visit www.womensimpactfund.org.
For further information, images and interviews, please contact: Eleanor Moore, Program Assistant, at Augustine Literacy Project®-Charlotte 704-749-6162 or emoore@augustine.st-peters.org.