History of Literacy Volunteers of Roanoke Valley

1985

Literacy Volunteers of America - Roanoke Valley (LVA-RV) was founded by Sarah Rubush and Ruth Lipnik, two local librarians, in response to the many inquiries they received at the libraries about literacy services. They formed a Program Committee, became an affiliate of the national literacy organization Literacy Volunteers of America, and offered the first LVA training workshop for basic literacy volunteer tutors in the Roanoke Valley.

1989

Literacy Volunteers of America – Roanoke Valley (LVARV) was incorporated with a 13-member volunteer Board of Directors. In addition to Sarah and Ruth, members included Bruce Brenner, Alan Brittle, Sigmund Davidson, Pat Dungan, Dan Farris, Brenda McDaniel, Doug McQuade, Charlotte Porterfield, Melinda Payne, Quentin White, and Dudley Woody. Donations came from corporations, individuals, foundations, and local governments.

1991

• One-hundred fifty learners received more than 2,500 instructional hours from 142 tutors in the basic literacy program.
• The Virginia Literacy Foundation presented the Jeannie P. Baliles Award in Literacy to LVA-Roanoke Valley as the Outstanding Private Literacy Group in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• The Roanoke Valley Reading Council presented the Literacy Award to LVA-RV.
• LVA-RV received its first grant of $1,000 from the Foundation for Roanoke Valley.
• The board held the first corporate spelling bee and raised $5,000 for LVA-RV.

1992

• A record number of 204 volunteers provide service for LVA-RV clients.
• The federal government provided about 25% of the budget. For the first time, LVA-RV received funding from United Way of Roanoke Valley.

1993

• The English as a Second Language (ESL) training program was introduced. Sixty-five ESL learners received 927 instructional hours from 17 tutors.
• More than 200 basic literacy learners received over 3,500 instructional hours from 147 tutors.

1994

• A record number of 301 learners were served, due to an increase in small group work in the ESL program.
• For the second time in four years, The Virginia Literacy Foundation presented the Jeannie P. Baliles Award in Literacy to LVA-RV as the Outstanding Private Literacy Group in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• LVA-RV ended the fiscal year with a deficit.

1995

• A record 4,688 instructional hours were provided.
• Delegate Chip Woodrum helped secure sales tax exemption for LVA-RV.
• Financial troubles continued. The office was relocated twice in seven months.

1996

• LVA-RV hit a financial low. By May there were no funds in the bank account. The program coordinator, Nancy Francisco, had been laid off in February. The executive director, Alan Brittle, resigned in May. Jodi Miskowiec, a seasoned LVA volunteer, offered to keep the office running until enough funds could be raised to hire a full-time staff person. Jodi maintained support for volunteers and services to learners and literally saved LVA-RV from the brink of total collapse.
• Jodi and the Board worked together to raise over $20,000 that summer. NationsBank donated $10,000, while individual contributions received in that quarter amounted to $8,590.
• The office moved in August to the Habitat for Humanity Building at 1701 Cleveland Ave. in Southwest Roanoke.
• Writing from the Heart was published for the first time, made possible by a grant from Southland Corporation/7-Eleven Stores.
• In September, Nancy Chapin was hired as executive director.

1997

• Under Nancy Chapin’s direction LVA-RV climbed out of financial difficulties. The 1996-97 fiscal year ended with a surplus.
• The first annual awards cookout was held at Wasena Park in June.
• The second annual book sale netted over $1,000.

1998

• LVA-RV participated in the Incredible Reading Rally for the first time.
• Jodi Miskowiec received the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award. J.C. Penney donated $1,000 to LVA-RV in her honor.

1999

• Bank of America offered to house LVA-RV on the second floor of its Crossroads Mall branch. The office was relocated there in November.
• Jack Spraker was hired as full-time Basic Literacy Program Coordinator.

2000

• Adult learners received a record 5,133 instructional hours from volunteer tutors.
• LVA-RV participated in the Learning Disabilities Training and Dissemination Project.
• Landmark Communications Foundation awarded $25,000 to mark the beginning of a three-year challenge grant of $25,000 per year to expand the ESOL program.
• The fifth annual book sale netted over $2,700.

2001

• Small classes for intermediate ESOL learners were offered at the Learning Center for the first time.
• Four computers with high-speed Internet access became available for learners and tutors.
• LVA-Roanoke Valley went on-line with its Web site www.lvarv.org.
• The sixth annual book sale, sponsored for the first time by The Roanoke Times, and held at Festival in the Park under a tent, netted $7,000.

2002

• Adult learners received a record 8,023 instructional hours from 170 volunteer tutors.
• Two more computers were added to the computer lab, making a total of six.
• LVA-Roanoke Valley received an EL-Civics grant to hire a English Curriculum and Technology Specialist, Bill Van Velzer, who designed curriculum, taught English classes, and posted materials and lessons on the website.
• Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. merged with Laubach Literacy Action to form ProLiteracy Worldwide. LVA-Roanoke Valley became an affiliate of ProLiteracy America.
• The seventh annual book sale, housed for the first time at Tanglewood Mall, and sponsored again by The Roanoke Times, netted over $13,000.

2003

• Adult learners received 7,243 instructional hours from 186 volunteer tutors.
• Under its new affiliation with ProLiteracy America, LVA-RV changed its name to Literacy Volunteers of Roanoke Valley.
• Annette Loschert joined LVRV in May as its new Executive Director.
• The eighth annual book sale netted a record $14,500.

2004

• A record 383 learners were served by more than 180 tutors. ESOL students made up 2/3 of our learner population.
• LVRV partnered with the VA Workforce Center and established a computer literacy program thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.
• Grants from Verizon, Dollar General, and the VA Department of Education enabled LVRV to expand the EL/Civics program.
• The Blue Ridge Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America adopted LVRV as their community service project and spearheaded a new image campaign for the organization.
• Susie Boxley was promoted to Program Manager and Bill Van Velzer joined LVRV as Programs Coordinator, in addition to his responsibilities as EL/Civics instructor.
• Marsha Tait, executive VP of ProLiteracy Worldwide visited LVRV to help kick off the celebration of 20 years of literacy service to adults in the Roanoke Valley.
• LVRV became the first pilot site to receive VALIT, a database application from the Virginia Literacy Foundation designed for adult literacy programs.
• "An Evening with Lee Smith" sponsored by The Roanoke Times raised more than $5,000 for LVRV and launched an annual author event.

2005

• A total of 8,389 instructional hours were received by our learners through one-to-one, small group, large group, and computer-based instruction.
• ESOL learners represented more than 70% of learners served.
• EL/Civics classes expanded to four offerings for beginner and intermediate learners.
• An ESOL Workplace Literacy Program was launched at Salem Preferred Partners.
• Sarah Rubush, Ruth Lipnik, Sig Davidson and Pat Dungan were honored at a Founders’ Luncheon to celebrate LVRVs 20th anniversary.
• LVRV was reaccredited by ProLiteracy America through June 2009.
• "An Evening with Nikki Giovanni" sponsored by The Roanoke Times marked our second annual author event.

2006

• The First Annual Scrabble Tournament sponsored by The Roanoke Times and Verizon raised $11,800 for the organization and replaced the annual book sale as LVRV’s signature fundraiser.
• Corporate and foundation grants topped $86,000. Combined with record individual contributions, a fund surplus enabled LVRV to establish the Walter P. Dungan Endowment Fund with the Foundation for Roanoke Valley.
• The 11th and last book sale was held at Towers Shopping Mall.
• "An Evening with Dr. James Robertson brought in $5,500 to support LVRV.

2007

• The Third Annual Scrabble Tournament raised more than $12,000 for the organization.
• 2007 was a year of transition, including a move to the Downtown Roanoke Library on Jefferson Street and a change in staff.
• Bill Van Velzer became the Program Manager and Pam Adams was hired as the Program Coordinator.
• The introduction of the ESOL Content Standards from the Virginia Department of Education inspired LVRV to begin measuring the reading abilities of ESOL learners in addition to their speaking and listening abilities. To do this, LVRV chose to use CASAS, an integrated assessment and curriculum management system.
• A total of 6,227 instructional hours were received by our learners through one-to-one, small group, large group, and computer-based instruction.
• "An Evening with Sharyn McCrumb" marked LVRV’s fourth annual author event.

2008

• ESL classes for beginner and intermediate learners continued thanks to funding from the VA Department of Education.
• Two learners were interviewed by their tutors for National Public Radio’s StoryCorps. Stories were added to the LVRV website.
• The Walter P. Dungan Literacy Endowment Fund received an $86,328 gift from the estate of JoAnn Jester.
• 263 learners accumulated 6,338 instructional hours, and 57% of those post-assessed following instruction achieved an educational functioning level gain as measured by the State DOE.

2009

• In the worst economic climate since the Great Depression, LVRV finished the fiscal year with a surplus. Corporate and foundation donations topped $89,000.
• Annette Loschert was presented with the Nancy Jiranek Award for outstanding non-profit leadership from the Virginia Literacy Foundation.
• LVRV was reaccredited by ProLiteracy through June 2012.
• Betsy Hale joined the team as Basic Literacy Program Coordinator and Pam Adams became the ESOL Program Coordinator.
• 349 learners accumulated 7,180 instructional hours, and 60% of those post-assessed following instruction achieved an educational functioning level gain as measured by the State DOE.