Press Release - Community Literacy Centers Receives $60,000 in Support of Adult Literacy

OKLAHOMA CITY - Community Literacy Centers (CLC) announced today that it has received $60,000 in grants from the Sarkeys Foundation and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. The funds will support adult literacy programs in Oklahoma City. CLC was awarded $50,000 from the Sarkeys Foundation and $10,000 from JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Community Literacy Centers is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to teaching adults to read. Free classroom instruction is provided to more than 1,200 adults each year in reading, writing, and mathematics. CLC also provides individual tutoring for students needing further support.

"Many of the people who come to CLC are unable to change their current situation because of their inability to read. Over the years, I've watched the lives of countless students and their families be transformed through the work that CLC does. By teaching adults to read, we are giving them a second chance at a better life," said CLC Executive Director Becky O'Dell.

According to the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, nearly 140,000 Oklahoma City adults have limited literacy skills, meaning they have trouble reading a newspaper, street signs, filling out an application form, or accessing health information and services. More than 400,000 Oklahomans statewide are functionally illiterate, meaning they read at or below a fifth grade level.

"With the help of the Sarkeys Foundation and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., our work will continue to bring an end to illiteracy, one student at a time," O'Dell said. 

About CLC

Established in 1987, Community Literacy Centers, Inc. (CLC) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to teaching adults to read. Since its inception, CLC has helped over 27,000 individuals. CLC offers basic skills, a family program, and also provides tutor training and workshops for volunteers. CLC is a United Way partner agency. For more information, call 405.524.7323 or visit www.communityliteracy.com.