ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 4, 2003 CONTACT: Randy Nehrt CONTACT: Pat McGuckin

Literacy Providers Get Annual Grants From Jesse White

SPRINGFIELD — Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White announced today that he has awarded nearly 200 Fiscal Year 2004 grants totaling almost $6.4 million to help finance local literacy programs throughout Illinois.

White said the grants fund critical programs throughout the state that help citizens obtain the reading, writing, math and language skills necessary to become more successful and achieve their full potential in life.

"The Secretary of State/Illinois State Library Literacy Office has built very strong relationships with literacy projects located in every corner of the state," White said. "Local providers use this money to provide students with educational skills that allow them to become better parents, students and employees. Professional staffs, coupled with nearly 15,000 dedicated volunteer tutors, worked with almost 39,000 students last year. I truly believe that learning is a lifelong process, and our literacy programs in Illinois are helping students get on the path to greater success."

Grant recipients include libraries, community colleges, school districts, volunteer organizations, community based organizations and correctional facilities. The grants are provided through five types of programs administered by the Secretary of State:

1. Community volunteer literacy programs provide one-on-one tutoring for adults over the age of 16 who want to improve their reading, writing, math and language skills. Programs may receive grants of up to $75,000.

2. Family literacy programs provide parents with the educational skills they need to help themselves and their children. Providers may receive grants of up to $35,000.

3. New Chapters programs provide on-site instructional services for parents and children who are temporarily housed at a domestic violence shelter facility. Grants of up to $10,000 are available to providers.

4. Workplace Skills Enhancement grants provide on-site instructional services to employees of Illinois businesses to enable them to enhance the skills, maintain their employment and increase their chances for promotion. Matching grants of up to $10,000 are available to employers.

5. Making Work Pay grants provide instructional services to prospective or hired workers. Businesses commit to hiring new workers during the grant period and training them in areas such as employability, technical or basic reading, math, writing or language skills. Businesses match the grant awarded by the state, and partner with a local educational provider. Maximum grant awarded is $10,000. Grants for a sixth program, the Penny Severns Summer Family Literacy program, are awarded in April.

"I have visited many of the local programs funded by these grants, and have seen up close the difference they are making in the lives of students," White said. "I commend our students for their desire to obtain greater personal and professional satisfaction."

White urged citizens who want to become volunteer literacy tutors to contact the Illinois Adult Learning Hotline at 1-800-321-9511.

The list of the 197 providers receiving FY04 grants