BOYNTON BEACH, Fla., July 2, 2018 – The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County celebrated the 5th anniversary of the Blume Center for Education, Training and Outreach on the Brenda and C.P. Medore Campus in Boynton Beach on June 20.
The Coalition hosted a reception for donors who made the 12,000 square foot center possible, and for board members, volunteers and staff who continue in their dedication to help support the Coalition’s mission to improve the quality of life in our community by promoting and achieving literacy.
The Blume Literacy Center has enabled the Coalition to further expand our education, training and outreach to the adults, children, youth and families we serve. We have brought education leaders together to share resources, exchange ideas and ultimately work together in supporting literacy programs and initiatives.
“We are grateful to the many supporters who helped make the dream of a permanent home for literacy in Palm Beach County become a reality,” said Kristin Calder, Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County CEO. “Now as we look to the next five years, as a Coalition we continue to bring organizations together, identify literacy needs, help provide solutions, and raise funds and awareness in support of a more literate community.”
A few highlights since moving into The Blume Literacy Center five years ago:
- About half-a-million books have been stored at the center and distributed through our programs. Additionally, we have given away another 45,000 books to community partners from donations from thoughtful donors, community book drives and generous funders.
- The Coalition provides “Tutor Trainings” at the center for hundreds of new volunteers each year. These tutors are placed in adult community literacy programs at the Palm Beach County Library System, the city libraries, the School District of Palm Beach County and other community-based organizations, and in our children’s literacy programs, primarily the Building Better Readers program which is focused on getting children reading on grade level by 3rd As part of Building Better Readers program, the Literacy Coalition provides free tutoring at the center for 30 elementary students each week, which complements the 300 students in 22 economically disadvantaged schools.
- The Coalition’s 40 Literacy AmeriCorps members, who serve as graduation coaches, mentors and reading tutors at sites throughout the county, train at the Blume Literacy Center. In five years, the members have collectively amassed an incredible 41,424 hours of training at the center. These trainings include:
- Trauma Informed Care
- Youth Mental Health First Aid
- Emotional Intelligence
- CPR (Infant, Child, Adult)
- Disaster Preparedness and Management
- Our Read Together Palm Beach County initiative committee has held events a The Blume Literacy Center, including ambassador meetings and announcing chosen books for the one book, one community campaign. The Coalition has also celebrated reading through events at the center for youth and adults with authors, including New York Times bestselling authors James Patterson, Scott Eyman and Hollywood legend Robert Wagner.
With 19 offices, conference rooms, a training room, a library and a book distribution center, the Literacy Coalition staff is flourishing in The Blume Literacy Center on the Brenda and C.P. Medore campus as we serve 27,000 adults, children and families throughout our county.
About the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County
A recipient of the coveted 4-star Charity Navigator rating for ten consecutive years, the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County has worked to improve the quality of life in our community by promoting and achieving literacy. One in seven adults in our county is unable to read and understand information found in books, newspapers and manuals and nearly half of all third graders are not reading on grade level. Through extensive outreach and collaboration with a network of community partners, the Literacy Coalition strives to ensure that individuals who need to improve their literacy skills receive the help they need. By providing services to more than 27,000 adults, children and families each year, the Literacy Coalition’s goal is for every child and every adult in Palm Beach County to be able to read.
For more information, contact:
Kristin Calder
(561) 279-9103
E-mail: kcalder@literacypbc.org
