- By -Staff
- Around Town
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Tompkins Learning Partners will launch its Literacy for Life Capital Campaign with a “ground breaking” celebration Monday at the organization’s home at 124 W. Buffalo Street in Ithaca.
Campaign Co-Chairs Carl Haynes, president of Tompkins Cortland Community College, and Tom Weiler, board president of Tompkins Learning Partners, will be on hand to officially kick off the agency’s first-ever capital campaign.
Generous early and lead donors have already secured nearly $570,000 of the campaign’s $600,000 goal. Contributions to the campaign will fund the much-needed renovation of Tompkins Learning Partner’s building at 124 W. Buffalo Street, recently donated by David and Elaine Easton. Gifts and pledges to the campaign will also make it possible to expand and enhance essential literacy programs.
“In this economy, when so many people are struggling to keep or obtain employment, gaining or improving literacy skills can make all the difference.” says Tompkins Learning Partners Executive Director David Smith. “At TLP we assist students at various levels of ability who want to improve their ability to speak English or read, write, and do math so that they can more fully participate in the community and reach their personal literacy and /or employment goals.”
Tompkins Learning Partners hopes to conclude the Literacy for Life Campaign by the end of year and to begin a series of major exterior and interior renovations this fall, including a new roof and heating system. The Literacy for Life Campaign will provide a number of opportunities to name tutoring rooms, the library, and the reading garden.
“We’re hoping to build on our early success by raising 110% of our goal,” says Weiler. “That would enable us to accomplish all that we set out to do: fully renovate our new home, double our program and office space, reduce our waiting list, and serve all those who take the courageous step to walk through our doors and ask for help.”
“I have seen first-hand the important and powerful difference the agency’s literacy tutoring makes,” say Haynes. “Tompkins Learning Partners is quietly but very effectively transforming lives. The work they do not only benefits individuals and families, and area employers, but our entire community.”
Tompkins Learning Partners, now in its 30th year, provides, free and confidential volunteer tutoring services that make it possible for adults and incarcerated youth to improve reading, writing, and math skills, and assists immigrants who want to learn to speak English or prepare for the U.S. Citizenship exam.
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