In the News
- We’ve moved! Literacy DuPage is excited to announce its recent move to Wheaton! On March 31st, we relocated a touch west. This larger space allows us to serve more DuPage County adults, who seek assistance in learning and improving their English language skills. It’s a momentous year for us, celebrating 50 years in business and a new home! Our new address and phone number are listed at the top and footer of this page.
- BIG News! Literacy DuPage is proud and delighted to announce the celebration of 50 years in business! For five decades, Literacy DuPage has provided free, customized, one-to-one instruction to DuPage County adults interested in learning English and improving their language skills. This is thanks to our devoted tutors, students, staff, board members, other volunteers, donors, and funders over the years, all of whom had meaningful parts to play in creating and sustaining our successful program. Our 50th anniversary is an extraordinary milestone, a major accomplishment. Thank you for sharing this exciting occasion with us! For more of the story, visit https://conta.cc/3wma1yc
- Continuing the program that began last summer, Literacy DuPage provides curricula to newly-trained tutors. This project is partially supported by a grant from the City of Naperville.
- Literacy DuPage is grateful for the generous $3,500 grant as a donation from the Perma-Seal Fund of DuPage Foundation. This continued support is so appreciated!
- Six public libraries in DuPage County – Addison, Indian Prairie, Itasca, Naperville, Westmont, and Wheaton – collaborated on a one-community, two-book program series called “Neighbors Together” to promote Literacy DuPage’s one-to-one English language tutoring program in attracting learners and tutors and to highlight the diversity of the county. In February, each library hosted a book discussion on the fiction title, The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez and/or the non-fiction title, Conditional Citizens by Laila Lalami. Additional immigration-themed events were also offered. Members of all libraries were welcome to participate in any of the programs or book discussions. Some events were held in person and some online. Click for details.
- Literacy DuPage was one of 31 not-for-profit organizations to receive a grant through DuPage Foundation’s Community Needs Grant Program. During the Fall 2021 cycle, DuPage Foundation awarded $432,193 to organizations working in the areas of education, arts & culture, environment, and animal welfare. Literacy DuPage received a grant in the amount of $20,000 to support its one-to-one tutoring program. For more, click here.
- Literacy DuPage is a recipient of the Nicor Gas Charitable Giving grant in the amount of $2,500. These funds will be used to recruit and train new tutors and provide their ongoing support.
- The Grove Foundation in Downers Grove awarded Literacy DuPage a $1,000 grant. Literacy DuPage is grateful for this support.
- Our Executive Director was a guest on WDCB Weekly on Sunday, September 26th. The radio program broadcasts from the College of DuPage.
- On September 15th, Literacy DuPage Executive Director Bobbi Burgstone was interviewed by NCTV17, Naperville’s community television station. You can watch the full interview here:
- Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White recently announced the 2021 Spotlight on Literacy Awards winners. A Literacy DuPage student and tutor both received awards! You can read their full stories in the Daily Herald.
- Literacy DuPage recently received an extraordinary gift of $10,000 from a tutor with the intention of introducing a program of curriculum materials for new tutors fresh out of training at Literacy DuPage. This initiative launched as a pilot program in September. Read the story in a recent e-newsletter. Want to stay in the know and receive Literacy DuPage news? Sign up here!
- Wintrust Bank recently presented a generous gift of 13 new computers to Literacy DuPage. These devices have been provided to lower-income adult learners in DuPage County, who were limited to receiving virtual one-to-one tutoring via cell phones. Read more here.
- Literacy DuPage was fortunate to have received PPP funding in both rounds for a total of $99,340.
