Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition

Darlene Kostrub, Executive Director
551 SE 8th Street, #505
Delray Beach, FL 33483-5183
Phone (561) 279-9103
FAX (561) 265-3579
dskostrub@aol.com
www.pbcliteracy.org

Year Incorporated

1989

Vision and/or Mission

The mission of The Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition is to promote and achieve literacy for adults, children and families thereby improving the quality of life in our county and region. In order to achieve our mission statement, we envision that the following methods will be implemented:

Act as an information networking and referral center.

Develop and maintain highly visible literacy programs.

Serve as a leading advocate for literacy

Serve as a catalyst for innovative strategies and programs.

Play a leadership role in coordinating existing service providers.

Lead and unify the community in literacy efforts.

History

An executive of a large local newspaper attended an industry conference and heard about other literacy coalitions being formed across the country. She came back and formed a volunteer board which started the Coalition.

Founding Leaders

Newspaper executive - founding president; local attorney - gave legal advice; director, Workforce Development Board (formerly Private Industry Council); television station contact - helped garner media support; director, adult education, school district - major provider.

Early Successes

Obtained office space and part-time office assistance from United Way.

Started a Literacy Hotline that continues to field hundreds of calls each year from learners and volunteers.

Organized a Workplace Literacy Expo.

Hosted a State Literacy Conference.

Evolved small fundraising event (Love of Literacy Luncheon) into a major public awareness event.

Early Challenges

Obtaining funding to hire staff (after three years, grants from three national foundations were awarded).

Having enough money to grow infrastructure, since available funds were being put into programs.

Turning Point

When the Literacy Luncheon sold out with more than 700 guests at the Ritz Carlton with Barbara Bush as speaker, the Coalition and literacy received tremendous publicity.

Current Size

4,000 supporters on the mailing list.

Staff of 18 plus 12 AmeriCorps members.

Over $1 million budget.

Two rented suites in a bank office building.

Recent Accomplishments

Hosts two monthly literacy provider meetings (for children's literacy and adult literacy, respectively) to facilitate information sharing and networking.

Serves as the state-appointed Adult Literacy Center for four counties.

Staff members serve on several literacy group advisory boards and most city-wide committees with relationships to literacy.

Runs model programs and provide services which complement and enhance the service of other providers: Reach Out and Read Program operates in 22 health clinics;Literacy*AmeriCorps members tutor in 12 sites; America Reads volunteers work with children in 20 sites; two family literacy programs serve parents and children; workplace literacy classes are conducted at local businesses.

Holds two major fundraising events (Literacy Luncheon and Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee).

Sponsors an Adult Literacy Student Essay Contest.

Conducts tutor training, including a fall training conference for teachers and tutors.

Runs major public awareness events on International Literacy Day, September 8.

Conduct Faith and Literacy Weekends that have reached out to learners and volunteers from 150 churches and synagogues.

Began 2 new programs to train staff on reading strategies and distribute books at 14 child care centers, 42 family care homes and 15 after school programs.

Next Steps - Managerial

Obtain more staff for fund development and human resources.

We are always seeking to further strengthen, expand, and diversify the board.

Next Steps - Programmatic

Encourage the growth of more neighborhood-based literacy providers.

Advice to Other Coalitions

Putting business in the leadership of the board is crucial. This helps to gain the support of other businesses and to give the organization visibility and credibility in the community. Also, getting a large buy-in from the media is important.

Last Updated

May 2001