Return-Path: <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g92FTqX12649; Wed, 2 Oct 2002 11:29:52 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2002 11:29:52 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <200210021526.g92FQPe12030@literacy.nifl.gov> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: JALEH.BEHROOZI@nifl.gov To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1296] Press Release: The Merger of Laubach and LVA X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Status: O Content-Length: 3019 Lines: 67 CONTACT: Bethel House Kogut, (bkogut@proliteracy.org) (315) 422-9121, Ext. 353 OR: Tracy Carman (tcarman@proliteracy.org) (315) 422-9121, Ext. 374 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE LITERACY GIANTS MERGE TO FORM PROLITERACY WORLDWIDE SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, October 1, 2002-The merger of the world's two largest adult volunteer literacy organizations is complete and Laubach Literacy International and Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. have become ProLiteracy Worldwide. ProLiteracy Worldwide has programs in 45 developing countries as well as in the U.S. where it represents some 1,450 adult volunteer literacy organizations. ProLiteracy serves more than 350,000 adult new learners around the world each year. Its purpose is to sponsor educational programs and services to empower adults and their families by assisting them to acquire the literacy practices and skills they need to function more effectively in their daily lives and participate in the transformation of their societies. ProLiteracy's publishing division, New Readers Press, produces and distributes approximately 500 titles of adult educational books and materials to literacy organizations, schools, libraries, and other institutions nationwide. New Readers Press also publishes News for You, a weekly newspaper for adult new readers, which is read by 90,000 adult learners. According to Robert Wedgeworth, president of ProLiteracy Worldwide, "This merger will bring incalculable benefits to the programs and people we serve around the world. Our goals are first and foremost to raise public awareness of the adult literacy cause and to influence public policy and funding. ProLiteracy Worldwide will make a substantial contribution to improving adult literacy during UNESCO's Decade of Literacy, 2003-2012." "A merger of this scale and scope is unprecedented in the literacy field," said Marsha L. Tait, senior vice president of programs and services and former president of Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. "Until now literacy advocates have not spoken with one voice on behalf of adult learners-either internationally or domestically." In the United States, one in four adults function at the lowest literacy level. Abroad, more than 877 million adults are functionally illiterate. Adults with low literacy skills experience social, economic, and personal challenges that compromise their abilities to support themselves, to help their children in school, and to fully participate in society. Laubach Literacy International was founded in 1955 by world literacy pioneer Dr. Frank C. Laubach and Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. was founded by Ruth Colvin in Syracuse, New York, in 1962. Marsha L. Tait Senior Vice President of Programs and Services ProLiteracy Worldwide Chair, National Coalition for Literacy 1320 Jamesville Ave. Syracuse, NY 13210 315-422-9121 X322 http://www.proliteracy.org http://www.natcoalitionliteracy.org/
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