ANNUAL REPORT 2015

Teach a Parent, Reach a Child . . .

Adult Literacy Strengthens Families.

Bernie Steiger, Executive Director

DEAR FRIENDSBy almost any measure, 2015 was the most transformational year in our organization’s history. Infused with new energy from the process improvement and capacity-building efforts we undertook in 2014, we achieved remarkable gains in: Tutor retention - A new training program which, along with the introduction of peer tutor support groups and increased communication with our tutor community, resulted in a 29 percent improvement in retention. Financial outlook - Thanks to a 37 percent increase in revenues from generous individual donors, private foundations, and government sources, Literacy DuPage went from a financial deficit to a surplus. 86 percent of our total funding goes directly to our program services. Awareness - By improving our visibility through community outreach, social media, and events, we have increased awareness about the adult literacy challenge in DuPage County and our solution. Technology advancements - We built up our database, gained remote access capability through the implementation of a server, and improved the way we collect and report our data and outcomes. These achievements represent significant steps toward our vision of empowering adults, families, and communities through literacy. As we make headway, others take notice within our communities and the wider world of literacy. In 2015, one of our learners received a Spotlight Award from the Illinois Secretary of State, we earned GuideStar’s Silver Status, and we were invited to present at this year’s national ProLiteracy Conference on Adult Literacy. All this action creates momentum to address the challenges that remain. In the coming year, we’ll be using our power to find and train more tutors for the large, waiting population of adults who still need our literacy services. We’ll also continue to diversify our funding sources and tell more stories to showcase what Literacy DuPage does for learners, tutors and the community at large. Action is key to our success. And so are you. Through your time, money, and belief in Literacy DuPage, you are empowering people with literacy. Together, we are literally changing lives. Thank you,

OUR RESULTS

of our learners are parents

159 learners gained 647 new skills as

citizens/community members Examples:

66 got library cards 17 earned a drivers license

9 registered to vote/voted for the first time

134 learners gained 650 new skills

as workers Examples:

43 gained employment 20 earned a promotion

56% spoke English at work

185 learners gained 1,545 new skills

as family members Examples:

88 read to their children 72 described medical symptoms

60 shopped for groceries

389 Volunteers Donated time worth

$512,410

422 learners received one-on-one or small group tutoring

289 learners Attended a drop-in conversation group

OUR STATS90%

countries are represented by our learners

42different languages spoken by learners

30

of our learners are female

80%of our learners are

hispanic

67%is the average family

income of a learner

$21,064

locations are used by volunteers and

learners for tutoring

160of our learners

are learning English as a second language

90%DuPage County residents need to improve their

English skills

100,000+

THE HUMAN RACE/FITNESS WALK

New in the U.S., Christian worked at fast food restaurants before starting her family. When her son and daughter reached school age, not only did she need English skills to communicate with teachers, doctors and other professionals, she was also preparing to rejoin the workforce. Being able to converse in English would make her a more competitive candidate.Literacy DuPage matched Christian with Karen.“Christian and I started with concrete things,” said Karen. “Name the objects in your home; spell the names of your children; tell me your address. She went through two adult reading books, which enabled her to help her children with their homework.”From there, the pair focused more on

listening and conversation skills.“We went to restaurants to eat,” said Karen. “Christian came to our fashion show and sat at a table with English speakers and made conversation.”After just three years, Christian understands about 90 percent of what is said to her. She easily talks with doctors, teachers, and other English speakers. This year, she passed her driver’s license exam and started looking for work.Tutoring has moved Christian from surviving to thriving in her community.“I have a new, part-time job at a local church. My interview was in English, and my boss understood everything I said,” Christian said. “Karen is a good teacher and very patient. She keeps telling me, ‘You can!’”

The Learner: Christian Moved to U.S. in 2005 knowing virtually no English. Goals: Communicate with her children’s teachers, doctors, and other professionals; read to her children; become a more competitive job applicant.

The Tutor: Karen Former elementary school teacher. 20+ years teaching English literacy to adults.

KAREN & CHRISTIAN: UNLOCKING THE DOOR TO A FULLER LIFE IN THE U.S.

ANNUAL RECOGNITION LUNCHEON

When Pablo first came to the U.S., he left his wife Linda in Mexico. She didn’t join him until seven years later, when he had achieved enough stability for the two to be together and start a family.Although neither spoke English when they arrived, Linda had completed a high school education in Mexico. Pablo studied only until seventh grade. Because he mostly worked in restaurants, alongside other Spanish speakers, this didn’t interfere with his primary focus: earning money for his family.But Linda wanted to communicate with neighbors, store clerks, doctors, and others. When she found help and quick improvements through Literacy DuPage, she urged Pablo to sign up with a tutor, too.

Literacy DuPage connected Pablo with Coleman about four years ago.“I’ve got time in my life now,” said Coleman. “And working with Pablo and Linda has opened me up to a life I would never have imagined. Sometimes I think it’s easy to live in a bubble in this country.”Coleman is inspired by the couple’s drive to learn.“At one point Pablo had three jobs going,” said Coleman. “But he always carved out time for me to give him lessons.”That commitment is paying off. The couple purchased a home in Westmont last year, and “I have more opportunity with my job now,” said Pablo.“They are driven to succeed in this country,” said Coleman. “Particularly for their children.”

The Tutor: Coleman Businessman with an MBA. Wanted to be more active in community and volunteer activities.

The Learner: Pablo Came to U.S. in 1997, looking for work and speaking no English. Goals: Improve ability to converse with people outside the restaurants where he works; improve reading comprehension.

PABLO & COLEMAN: COMMITTING TO LEARN IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

Janie and her husband brought their three young children to Chicago in the early 1970s, seeking a better life. Janie focused on childrearing, working temporary jobs when time and opportunity allowed. Once the kids were in school, a friend recommended Janie for a data entry job at the Chicago Board of Trade. Even without a high school diploma, she got the job and worked there 26 years. Once she retired, she started thinking about improving her literacy skills. “The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement,” said Janie. “I wanted to do constructive things with my time“. Literacy DuPage paired Janie with Laurie.

“I missed teaching,” said Laurie. “I realized this would be something I could be interested in.” In the two years Janie and Laurie have worked together, Janie has progressed to reading To Kill a Mockingbird. She also enjoys reading the Bible. Improved literacy skills help her in other ways, too. “I teach Sunday school, and I feel more secure about talking in front of a roomful of people now,” Janie said. “I also feel more confident communicating as a mother and grandmother. I feel better about myself overall and better about sharing the wisdom I have about life.”

READING BETWEEN THE WINES

The Tutor: Laurie Taught special education before raising her children full-time. Started tutoring for the satisfaction of teaching one-on-one.

The Learner: Janie Moved to Chicagoland from rural Mississippi without a high school diploma. Goals: Learn to be a stronger reader and more confident communicator in retirement.

Jessica Cilella

Lisa Dickson

Carl Fausey

Cassie Garcia

Quinn Hampton

LAURIE & JANIE: CREATING CONFIDENCE AND CONNECTIONS

The Key

to

Success

OUR VOLUNTEERS Conversation Group FacilitatorsBill Abernethy Mary Ellen Chabalowski Kathy Conrad Jane Cox Karen Fuist Robin Hallett Ellen Herbert Bruce Hoefnagel Sue Jones Julie Keating Omar Kushad Rao Lakkaraju Sherry Lobdell Crystal Louden Mary Ellen Mertz Mark Munoz Ralph Perry Lenore Reedy Bo Roberts Lynn Robertson Carol Rounds Jane Sawjewski Cindy Schwartz Karen Sego Liz Stefanski Laurel Swett Soon Har Tan Gretchen Wasniewski Karen Wille

401+ Hour Volunteers Lia Rubino 438

201-400 Hour Volunteers Alison Hayes 358 Barbara Langfeld 346 Mary Williamson 282 Karen Fuist 276 Martha L Koranda 273 Mary Tarnow 260

Linda Nolten 247 Janie Ford 239 Betty Duda 223 Linda Englander 215 Elaine Ryba 204

150-200 Hour Volunteers Quinn Hampton 198 Trudy Wissing 191 Judy Green 190 Dale Mohr 187 Nicole Kneeland-Woods 169 Eileen Gilligan 164 Maureen Majeska 163 Joan Sammarco, PhD 157 James Kadlec 156 Barbara Pourch 155 P.J. Williams 155 Jessica Cilella 150 Jacqueline Dupuis 150 Jennifer Hodson 150 Cathy Kakuska 150 Bob Lewis 150 Sherry Lobdell 150 Don Majeska 150 Ralph Perry 150 David Reynolds 150 Steve Smith 150 Karen Solano 150 Liz Stefanski 150

Volunteers 21+ Years of Service Patricia Shanower 25Leona Conforti 22

Volunteers 15-20 Years of Service Lynn Robertson 20 Jean Demas 19 Eileen Gilligan 17 Jina Lebert-Davies 17

Linda Lewandowski 17 Rita Mathern 17 Dale Mohr 17 Nancy Gray 16 Kathy Conrad 15 Irene King 15

Volunteers 10-14 Years of Service Kathy Channell 13 Donald Pieper 13 Mark Turner 13 June Dostal 12 Carol Rounds 12 Dave Moser 11 Cindy Schwartz 11 Preetinder Singh 11 Trudy Wissing 11 Lisa Dickson 10 Marie Jesionowski 10

Volunteers 5-9 Years of Service Nancy Martin 9 Anne Mortimer 9 Mark A. Munoz 9 Rick Lochner 8 Joe Sarnicki 8 Rita Tierney 8 Judy Witkov 8 Gloria Clancy 7 Mary Ellen Mertz 7 Barbara Parlour 7 Mary Joyce Pickett 7 Lia Rubino 7 Jane Rene Sajewski 7 Waring Webb 7 Carol Biwer 6 Judy Green 6 Christine Groves 6 Kathy Herbach 6 Patricia Houle 6 Peggy McGrath 6 Paul Scheiner 6

Gail Bumgarner 5 Janie Ford 5 Daryl Fox 5 Doreen Gordon 5 Karen Ide 5 Susan Kelly 5 Linda Nolten 5 Ellen Pancoe 5 Kay Schuller 5 Renee Silver 5 Liz Stefanski 5 Coleman Tuggle 5 Office and Special Project Volunteers Jessica Cilella Lisa Dickson Carl Fausey Cassie Garcia Kristen Akers Gozdecki Quinn Hampton Mary Sue Honigschmidt Marty Koranda Linda Kulikowski Paul Lauricella Andrea Leppert Matthew Maiman Regina Maritote Kiran Munir Linda Nolten Lia Rubino Antoinette Tuscano Regina Walker Mary Williamson

Patron Level $2500–$4999Steven Laughman

Partner Level $1000–$2499 Lisa M. Dietlin & Associates Julio Lara Michael and Sandra Meyers Linda Nolten Stephen and Betty Rae Smith Robert and Sue Talbot Suresh Thiruveedhula

$500+John Dainauskas Nancy and Bryan Deaton

Jean and Frank Demas

Christin Flavin Burek

Bob and Carol Garcia

Cathy and James Kakuska Karen Kreiling and Paul Gordon

Lisa and Sheridan Lam Stephanie and Thomas Marsh James and Barbara McLean Dave Moser C. Michael Reese Lia Rubino Joe Sarnicki

Individual Donors $250+ John and Pamela Kaprales Bernie and Sergio Steiger Lisa and Mike Thackeray Ada and Tim Zingelman

$100+ Anne Albrecht Margaret and Jim Bain Joan Baltusis

Annabel and Ken Bergman Thomas and Mary Callum Charles Carey Ronald and Elizabeth Chin Leona and Fred Conforti Janine and James Davidson Lisa and Richard Dickson Carl Fausey Kathleen Finckle Emily Demarco Bill and Carol Forssander Jane Fraser and Richard Grossi Michael and Beverly Frett Deborah Gaither Cathy and Jonathon Gottlieb Erika Grande Taylor Nancy and Thomas Gray Susan and Steve Hotopp Mary and Mark Howenstine Barbara and Kenneth Intihar Irene and John King Kelly and Holly Kost Linda Kulikowski Lisa and Sheridan Lam Bonnie Lee Marjory Lewe-Brady and Earl Brady Amy Lullo Lisa and Mark Lyon Kate Mallon Olga Marzec Wanda Mitchell Mark Munoz Marina Natsis Jia Osiel Louisa Parzyk Doug Portmann Tom and Karen Pulver Lenore Reedy Lynn and David Robertson Pete and Becky Rundquist Dawn and Eric Schubert Pat Steck Sarah Thomas Coleman and Deborah Tuggle Candy Zoerner

Friends Steven Batters Jean Beard Kristina and Alan Breiseth Sandra Sansone Brennan Gloria Clancy & Lawrence Jostock Joanne Corpus Emily Demarco Mary Anne Doran Jacqueline and Roger DuPuis Douglas Florzak and Loretta Rusky Alice and Ted Goodman Louise Grobl Nancy and Jeffrey Haas Anne Hanley and Joseph Woods Mary Jaeger Marty Koranda Joe, Joseph and Paul Lauricella Kay Malek Olga Marzec Tina Marie and Eddie Mateja Tom and Rita Mathern Julia McCarthy Kenn Miller Naneil Newlon Mary Joyce and Leroy Pickett Alyssa and Joseph Popowitch Aarthi Ramalingam and Sivakumar Muthukrishnan Christine Ripsky Carol Rounds Elaine and Albert Ryba Grizelda Salazar Cindy Schwartz James and Dorothy Shaffer Lori and Michael Silver Preety Singh Sarv Singh Ray Skowron Lester and Mary Ann Sommers Jaclyn South Mary Beth and Michael Speer Paul Teppema Earl and Denise Thompson Kim and Leo Tierney Margaret Trepal & Frances Radencic

OUR SUPPORTERS

Mark and Barbara Turner Donald Uhrin Dennis and Jan Wencel TributesDonald Pieper Nancy Gray MemorialsJackie Kagan William and Jerene Mitchell

Community PartnersAlfred Bersted Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee Blistex, Inc. Cathleen Grady Charitable Fund City of Naperville Chicago Tribune Charities, A McCormick Foundation Fund Community Memorial Foundation Dollar General Literacy Foundation DuPage County Human Services DuPage Foundation Exchange Club of Naperville First United Methodist Giving DuPage Grove Foundation for Recreation H. Susan Jones Charitable Fund of the DuPage Foundation Illinois State Library, a Division of the Office of the Secretary of State Indian Head Park Women’s Club Kiwanis Club of Downers Grove Kiwanis Club of Wheaton Louise Ingalls MacArthur Fund of the Dupage Foundation MCS Foundation Naperville Jaycees Ronald L. McDaniel Foundation The DeVry Foundation United Way of Metropolitan Chicago

In-Kind Andrea Leppert Chicago Tribune Company Daily Herald

Edison Electric LLC Gina Michelle Images Photography Gina Walker Indian Prairie Public Library Jeans & A Cute Top Shop Lisa Pires Mathew Maiman Microsoft National Engravers Our Many Generous Raffle Donors Parkers American Restaurant & Bar Sophia Forero Designs Ste. Michelle Wine Estates The Hess Collection Winery Wirtz Beverage Woodridge Junior Women’s Club Recognition Luncheon Sponsors Event Sponsors Comcast Ronald L. McDaniel Foundation Gold Sponsors Cabot Microelectronics Corporation Capstone Financial Advisors, Inc. Table Sponsors Ball Horticultural Co. PNC - Danada Branch RPC Leadership Associates, Inc. Stellco Properties Letters for Literacy Advantage Employment Aramark Cabot Microelectronics Corporation Chicago Tribune Daily Herald Lisle Library District Literacy DuPage Board of Directors Mark Wright, D.M.D. Michael E. Bond, D.D.S. Naperville Chamber of Commerce Team B2B NorthStar Credit Union Rotary Club of Central DuPage A.M. West Chicago Public Library District

2015 Human Race Sponsors Family Health & Wellness Chiropractic Clinic Fancy-Free Holidays, Inc. Lisle Library District O’Promo Rockford Foundries RPC Leadership Associates 2015 Human Race Participants: Team Laps for Literacy Mike Bauer Jessica Cilella Leona and Mandie Conforti Nancy Deaton Jean Demas Lisa Dickson Sandra Dimmick Karen Dunford Mark and Mary Howenstine Linda Ireland Vijaya Israni Julio Lara Paul Lauricella Margaret Mclaughlin Christopher Miller Julie Niles Kerry O’Brien David Reynolds David Roberg Jackie Schaefers Adrien, Alec, Andre, Bernie and Sergio Steiger Olivia and Robert Talbot Elizabeth, Jacqueline, Jonathan, Randy and Sarah Thomas Coleman and Deborah Tuggle Callie Zimmerman Jonathon Zinkel

Former Board Members Nancy Deaton

Dave Giesen

Erika Grande-Taylor

Linda Ireland

Vijaya Israni

Bob Lampkin

Rick Lochner

Michael Meyers

Suresh Thiruveedhula

Jennifer Uhrin

Current Staff Members Bernie Steiger, Executive Director

Carol Garcia, Program Director

Amber Brown, Project Specialist

Rochelle Favale, Learner Support & Intake Specialist

Karen Fuist, Tutor Trainer and Peer Tutor Mentor

Marilyn Gebhardt, Tutor Trainer

Carly Huegelmann, Tutor Trainer

Diana Johnson, Tutor Trainer

Sang Lee, Volunteer Outreach Coordinator

Jacki Peterson-Sluder, Professional Services

Lisa Reuter, Program Assistant

Heidi Rodriguez, Learner Support & Intake Specialist

Carol Rounds, Program Assessment Specialist

Tana Tatnall, Grant Specialist

OUR PEOPLE & PARTNERS Current Board Members Jean Demas, President

Steve Smith, Vice President

Joe Sarnicki, Treasurer

Patti A. Bernhard, Secretary

Ragini Bilolikar

Julio Lara

Beth Nyland

Brett Skeen

Bob Talbot

Itasca Community Library

Lisle Publie Library District

Naperville Public Library – 95th Street Library

Naperville Public Library – Naper Boulevard Library

Naperville Public Library – Nichols Library

Oak Brook Public Library

Plainfield Public Library District

Helen M Plum Memorial Library, Lombard

Roselle Public Library District

Warrenville Public Library District

West Chicago Public Library District

Westmont Public Library

Wheaton Public Library

Winfield Public Library

Wood Dale Public Library

Woodridge Public Library

Public Library Partners Addison Public Library

Aurora Public Library – Eola Road Branch

Bartlett Public Library District

Bensenville Community Public Library

Bloomingdale Public Library

Carol Stream Public Library

Clarendon Hills Public Library

Downers Grove Public Library

Elmhurst Public Library

Fountaindale Public Library, Bolingbrook

Glen Ellyn Public Library

Glenside Public Library District

Hinsdale Public Library

Indian Prairie Public Library, Darien

OUR FY15 FINANCES

EXPENSES

The above statement was prepared based on financial statements audited by Wieland & Company, Inc. Certified Public Accountants, who expressed an unqualified opinion on this year’s financials.

SUPPORT & REVENUE

Program Services

$235,644 Fundraising Expenses $ 22,365 Management and General $ 16,509

Total Revenue Before Donated Services/In-Kind $274,518

Donated Services/In-Kind $525,892Expenses $800,410Increase in Net Assets $ 36,598Net Assets, Beginning of Year $134,573Net Assets, End of Year $171,171

86%

Businesses, Foundations and Organizations $146,231 Government Grants $96,760 Individual Contributions $32,616 Fundraising and Sponsorships $14,255 United Way $13,750 Program Service Fees and Other $7,504

Total Revenue Before Donated Services/In-Kind $311,116

Donated Services/In-Kind $525,892Total Revenue $837,008

86% 8% 6%

31% 11%4%

5% 2%47%

For video versions of the success stories in this report and to find out how you can get involved, visit www.literacydupage.org

Our Vision

Empowering adults, families, and communities through literacy.

Our Mission

Helping adults achieve their goals through accessible and customized tutoring in English. Empowering Adults through Literacy

Throughout the 2016 fiscal year, we’ll be focused on empowering: • tutors to train adult learners • adult learners to read, write, speak, and understand English • families to communicate with each other and those around them • the community with the strength of more confident, capable, connected citizens

24W500 Maple Avenue, Suite 217 Naperville, IL 60540

info@literacydupage.org630.416.6699

LITERALLY CHANGING LIVES