These wonderful volunteers have assisted us
with Tutor Training Workshops for many years!

Literacy Action Center celebrated the accomplishments of the year 2001 at our April 2002 Recognition Dinner. The theme was “Fly High! Reach for the Sky!” Special awards were presented to Errol & Sonja Chesley EerNisse and the Salt Lake Tribune for their outstanding support.

Sonja was trained as a tutor in 1998. At that time, she was volunteering in a local elementary school and wanted to know more about teaching reading. Later, she began tutoring one of our adult learners and has continued to tutor for more than two years. In March of last year, Sonja became a member of Literacy Action Center’s Board of Trustees. She has been helpful in contacting and establishing relationships with some of the foundations that donate to Literacy Action Center.

The Salt Lake Tribune has made annual financial contributions to Literacy Action Center for the past eight years. Lex Hemphill, a writer for the Salt Lake Tribune, was a member of Literacy Action Center’s Board of Trustees in 1994 and was instrumental in securing the first donation. Since then, the Tribune has made contributions annually. Although the ownership of the Tribune has changed over the years, the management has made sure that donations continue to support literacy.

Entertainment at this year’s Recognition Dinner was organized by Bernard and Julie. Bernard wrote a song about learning to read. With assistance from his nephew, Bernard had his song recorded on a CD.

Bernard played the CD for us. Words like, “I knew it’d be hard to grasp onto those words, but I had to try. I want to be like everyone else,” gripped our hearts and made us think about our own stories. Dinner guests asked to hear the song again. The second time, we tried singing along.

Julie wanted people to know about what she has been reading, but she’s also curious about what other people were reading. She decided it would be fun to provide time for people to talk about their favorite books at this year’s dinner.

She was right. It was fun! For more than twenty minutes, attendees moved from table to table and talked about the books they loved.

Wells Fargo Foundation,
Ruth & John Bamberger Memorial Foundation,
Steiner Foundation,
Anonymous Foundation,
Marion D. & Maxine Hanks Foundation,
Melby Family Foundation,
William & Mattie Harris Foundation,
Eskuche Foundation,
Salt Lake Tribune Corp.,
Blaine & Barbara Harmon Foundation,
McCarthey Family Foundation,
3M Health Strategies,
Sam’s Club Foundation,
Soroptimist’s of Bountiful,
Wal-Mart in Taylorsville,
UPS, and
The Harris & Amanda Simmons Foundation.

This is the first donation from The Harris Foundation, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, and The Simmons Foundation. All of the other donors have supported us for many years and we are grateful for their continued contributions.
Thanks for your support!

Errol & Sonja Chesley EerNisse,
Jan & Patti Osterstock,
Lex Hemphill,
Jim & Ann Wilson,
Chris & Terry Bragg,
Elizabeth Whitsett,
Robert & Deborah Young,
Sonja Penttila & Lewis Boynton,
Cissy Gracia, and
Paulina Manu.

Several other individuals made Christmas or New Year’s donations to LAC.
Thanks for your help!

The following donors provided the food and supplies for our Recognition Dinner
in April of 2002:

American Linen,
Brumby’s,
Canella’s,
Curtell’s Bakery,
Joni’s Deli,
Margaret Griffin,
Ream’s Store on Highland Drive,
Ruby’s Catering, and
Tartan Textiles.

Thank you all!