[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15634-15635]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 23RD ANNIVERSARY OF LITERACY VOLUNTEERS--PRINCE WILLIAM

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 12, 2014

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 23rd 
Anniversary of Literacy Volunteers of America--Prince William.
  Founded in 1991 by local librarian Dona Swanson to help teach a 
library patron to read, Literacy Volunteers of America--Prince William 
has maintained its direct service approach, by providing individualized 
adult literacy tutoring based on the personal needs and goals of adult 
learners. LVA-PW understands that literacy is a critical skill which 
can open the doors to educational and employment opportunities. As a 
literature major in college, I cannot agree more.
  LVA-PW's programs are well-researched and constantly tracked and 
evaluated by staff to ensure their effectiveness. This has proven to be 
a highly successful model: in 2014, LVA-PW served 667 adult learners 
who received a total of 14,000 hours of instruction from 212 trained 
volunteer tutors. Many of these participants learned to read and write 
thereby enabling them to become full participants in our communities 
and, in many cases, to earn their GEDs and achieve employment.
  Literacy Volunteers of America--Prince William has established itself 
as an institution in the community, fostering local partnerships to 
strengthen both their own services and those of other community groups, 
including the Prince William County Library System, the Virginia 
Employment Center, Northern Virginia Community College, the Prince 
William County Adult Education Program, and local businesses through 
workplace literacy programs. LVA-PW has been recognized as Community 
Service Organization of the Year by the Prince William Regional Chamber 
of Commerce, Volunteer Organization of the Quarter by Prince William 
County, and Friday's Hero by the local Channel 9 News. Literacy 
Volunteers of America--Prince William is a model to be emulated.
  Each year the Literacy Volunteers of America--Prince William 
recognizes individuals for their commitment as students, tutors, or 
volunteers. I am pleased to enter the following names of the 2014 
honorees into the Congressional Record:
  Students of the Year--Rut Amdemskal and Iftikhar Haq
  Tutors of the Year--Davine Irving and Linda Mazzucchi
  Volunteer of the Year--Ernestine Jenkins
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating 
Literacy Volunteers of America--Prince William on the occasion of its 
23rd Anniversary and in thanking the volunteers, sponsors, staff, and 
community partners for their efforts in support of this worthwhile 
organization. I also commend Vicki Gross for her many contributions to 
LVA-PW while serving as Executive Director.

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