The Washington County Community Foundation (WCCF) recently donated 35 infrequently used computer tablets to the Literacy Council of Southwestern Pennsylvania. We thought this technology would be useful for students participating in the Literacy Council’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program.
The tablets were delivered by members of the WCF Assignment and Program Committee during a recent field visit to the Washington location of the Literacy Council at Fairhill Manor Church.
The Literacy Council has been operating since 1985. However, it has experienced explosive growth in recent years with a large influx of immigrants into the service area, which includes Washington, Greene, Fayette, and Westmoreland counties. Most of the immigrants were from Haiti, China, Afghanistan and Ukraine, and many were seasoned professionals in their home countries. In order for them to resume their professional careers in the United States, they must first learn to speak English.
At the start of the 2020 pandemic, WCCF awarded the Literacy Council a $20,000 grant from the Close to Home Disaster and Emergency Fund to start a remote ESL program. The grant enabled the Council to purchase computer tablets for students so they can continue their studies remotely.
In addition to the ESL program, the Literacy Council offers citizenship preparation classes, general equivalent diploma preparation classes, a baby bookbag program, and other services, all free of charge, aimed at improving literacy. To learn more or contribute to support the work of the Council, please visit www.lcswpa.org.
In addition to its extensive grant program, WCCF offers group educational sessions and individual technical assistance to local nonprofits and hosts an annual Giving Day, free of charge to all local nonprofits. For more information or to make a donation to support WCCF’s charitable programs, please visit www.wccf.net.
