Literacy Volunteers on the Green Incorporates; Elects Allan Priaulx President
NEW MILFORD – (January 2, 2008) – Literacy Volunteers on the Green, the two-year-old organization that teaches English language skills to Litchfield Hills newcomers, has become a stand-alone corporation in preparation for significant growth in 2008 and beyond.
Literacy Volunteers was formed by Rita Guariglia of New Milford and Anne Maitland of Washington, who currently serve as director of special projects and executive director, respectively. It has 107 trained tutors, has enrolled 253 students and currently conducts about 50 weekly classes in the area. It also has recently inaugurated a peer-to-peer tutoring program in which teenagers learn from other teens and offers a family literacy program, Motheread/Fatheread®.
At a December board meeting the New Milford-based non-profit group elected Allan Priaulx of Kent as its first president. Priaulx recently concluded a six-year tenure as president of the Kent Library Association, which operates the Kent Memorial Library. A former journalist and publisher, he now operates an investor relations consultancy in Kent and New York City.
Other officers elected were Carol McCarthy of New Milford, vice president; Scott Mulhare of Roxbury, treasurer and Carol Beck of New Milford, secretary. In addition to Ms. Guariglia and Ms. Maitland, the incorporators also elected as board members Jamie Buck of Ansonia, Natalia Kolenciak of New Milford, Sue McWhinnie of Kent and Casey Pascal of Washington.
“Anne and Rita have done an absolutely stunning job in getting this organization up and running,” said Mr. Priaulx. “Up to now Literacy Volunteers has been under the helpful umbrella of United Way, but our growth requires us to have the financial and organizational flexibility of an independent group. There is a surprisingly large number of people in the Litchfield Hills who want to become independent readers, writers, listeners and speakers of English. Many of us know from our own family backgrounds the challenge of learning English as new arrivals in this country. Our willingness to help people to learn and assimilate and become productive is one of the great hallmarks of our country’s civility.”
Literacy Volunteers does not charge for its services and has no paid staff. It is an affiliate of the ProLiteracy America Program and of the United Way of Western Connecticut. Volunteer tutors teach in libraries, schools and other public spaces in Bridgewater, Kent, New Milford, Roxbury, Sherman, Warren and Washington and other surrounding communities. Students are tested annually for their proficiency. Literacy Volunteers on the Green offers two tutor training programs a year to assist volunteers in becoming tutors, with the next session scheduled for March 25, 26, and 27. For further information call 860-355-0830 or email