Aurora Women’s Empowerment Foundation Makes Grant Possible

AURORA, IL, USA, August 1, 2022.  The Aurora Women’s Empowerment Foundation (AWEF) announced that it has awarded Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley a grant to help bring its literacy programs to even more women from the Aurora area. Through trained volunteers and organizational staff, the nonprofit offers free, one-to-one tutoring focusing on reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English.

“We believe that the ability to communicate in English is the foundation that helps women secure work so they can earn money for their families, build their skills, and contribute to our communities,” said Amy Baudouin, Board Chair, Aurora Women’s Empowerment Foundation. “Ultimately, the goal of this grant is to help bring Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley programming to more women in Aurora.”

Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley, established in 1986, focuses on adults with the least skills and fewest resources. One hundred percent of those served either live or work in Kane County. In their last fiscal year, while programming was impacted by the pandemic, the organization made important pivots and still served 177 adult students, 126 (71%) of which were women.  Over 65% of the 126 were women who worked or resided in the greater Aurora area.

    Peg Coker

“Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley provides an important learning option for the low-skilled residents of our community,” said Peg Coker, Executive Director, Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley. “In addition to using the grant funds to help reach more students in the Aurora area, we will also use it to help defray the costs to train and certify 40 additional volunteers, providing them ongoing support through quarterly in-service sessions and one-to-one advice to increase tutor effectiveness.”

Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley is accredited by ProLiteracy, a distinction held by only 33 percent of the 1,200 national ProLiteracy affiliates. Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley is monitored at both national and state levels and is recognized for its superior professional leadership, effective programs, committed governing boards, and outstanding volunteer support.

Adults can enroll in the program anytime and learn for as long as they like. To get started, phone or email Kate Balogh, Program Coordinator, at 630-584-2811 or kate@lvfv.org. Additional information is also available on the organization’s website info@lvfv.org.

Those interested in becoming a volunteer tutor can learn more and register for tutor training at: https://www.lvfv.org/become-a-tutor

About…

The Aurora Women’s Empowerment Foundation mission is to elevate and empower Aurora-area women and future women by making grants to tax-exempt nonprofits engaged in meaningful, measurable work that helps women over the hurdles of inequity and exclusion, propelling them forward with life-changing programs and services.  For more information about grants made by AWEF, including our grant guidelines and online application, visit awe-foundation.org.

The Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley mission is to help individuals in the region acquire the literacy skills they need to function more effectively in contemporary U.S. society. The nonprofit seeks to equip and empower individuals who are otherwise unable to participate fully in our community. Through trained volunteers, staff and the generosity of their many supporters, Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley offers one-to-one tutoring focusing on reading, writing, speaking and understanding in English. To learn more, visit lvfv.org.