News for May 2012

After spending 2011 focused on Tutor Refresher Workshops, we're getting back to our semi-regular schedule of Tutor Enrichment Workshops - sessions where you can learn practical, useful ideas that can help you in the classroom, and meet fellow tutors.

Please click here for details about upcoming sessions, and registration forms.

We have the opportunity to organize these sessions through the GREAT Center (the same people who have presented at our Symposium in the past, for those who may have attended) but in order to do that we have to guarantee a minimum of 10 participants.

We hope to see you at a workshop!

Cause an Effect

Support Literacy Advance by buying pens and paper!
How? Read on...

Long-time Literacy Advance supporter Office Effects has launched an initiative to support Houston-area non-profits. All current and new clients of Office Effects will have the opportunity to become a Ben-EFFECT-or by selecting one of 12 local groups (of course, Literacy Advance is one!) as their EFFECT-iary, and with each purchase, a percentage of the total sales will be set aside for the selected group.

See more details about the Cause an Effect initative, including the upcoming Office Olympics fundraiser.

Houston Center for Literacy Mayor's Breakfast

Volunteers wanted for this event!

The 2012 Mayor’s Literacy Leadership Award Breakfast is coming up on Thursday, May 10th, and the Houston Center for Literacy is looking for volunteers to help with setting up, welcoming guests, and cleaning up at the event. As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to attend the event at no cost. Volunteers will need to arrive at the Houstonian by 6am on May 10th, and can expect to be there until around 9:30 am.

To express interest, talk to the Literacy Advance Volunteer Coordinator: volunteer@literacyadvance.org or 713-266-8777.

Are you applying to your company for a matching gift to Literacy Advance?

First - thank you! - but second, please get in touch before finalizing your gift

Some companies offer gifts to non-profits in recognition of volunteer time donated by their employees.

However, the systems some companies use (one  example is ExxonMobil, but there are others) to track matching gifts can be quite specific. Some require a code to show location (there's a different code for Bay Area and Wilcrest); others require other paperwork. It can get quite complicated, and if we don't get it right, we can miss out on these dollars!

To avoid confusion, please contact Irene Evans in our Development Department (713.266.8777 X15) before submitting anything to your company for a matching gift. She knows a lot of the fine print and is VERY happy to help walk you through the process.

Thank you again to those who are able to leverage the generosity of their employers in this way!