Annual Appeal
Every day, adults in DuPage County face challenges that many of us take for granted. Imagine not being able to navigate the grocery store, communicate with your child’s teacher, schedule a doctor’s appointment, or understand your prescription instructions.
Language is the key that unlocks opportunities—allowing people to connect, contribute, and thrive at home, at work, and in our community.
Your generous donation can provide free, customized English language tutoring to help adult learners achieve critical life skills.
According to the 2022 American Community Survey for DuPage County residents:
87,614 people speak English “less than well”.
53,162 adults lack a high school diploma.
70,756 individuals live in poverty (for a family of four, the poverty threshold is $31,200).
The impact of low literacy extends beyond individuals. Children of parents with low literacy levels have a 72% chance of achieving only the lowest level of literacy as adults, perpetuating cycles of illiteracy across generations.
Your gift will help enhance our curriculum, extend our reach to underserved communities, and empower learners to build brighter futures.
Improving literacy benefits everyone. It reduces unemployment, improves health outcomes, lowers incarceration rates, and decreases reliance on public assistance.
Your support can help adult learners take charge of their lives, support their families, and actively participate in our community.
Thank you for your support,
Kristin L. Chmiel
Executive Director
“I just celebrated the 20-year anniversary of the first student I tutored. We kept in touch. I worked with him on passing TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and then his GRE to get into graduate school at University of Illinois Chicago. Today he is a licensed architect working in Chicago and has designed buildings in Saudi Arabia, Jamaica, Israel, Kazakhstan and the U.S.”
You Will Make a Difference!
$25 - Flashcards for one learner
$50 - Books for one learner
$100 - Resources for Peer Mentoring Groups
$250 - Support for one tutor and learner pair
$500 - Chromebooks for digital literacy programs
$1,000 - Software licenses and subscriptions for tutor training
$2,500 - Professional development for staff and tutors
$5,000 - Tutor and learner recruitment expenses
These examples show how your donation may be used. Unrestricted gifts will fund any expenses supporting our mission.
“Now I’m confident. I can go shopping. I can make doctor appointments. It is much easier for me. My life is better!”