November 9th fundraiser to occur at The Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel at 6 PM
Lincoln, NE — Get ready for Lincoln Literacy’s 2024 Global Celebration, a fundraising event to be held the evening of Saturday, November 9, at The Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel, 333 S 13th St, from 6 to 8 PM.
Sandra Rojo, Associate Director of English Language Programs at Lincoln Literacy, will be the evening’s keynote speaker. Sandra moved to the U.S. from Mexico on her own when she was 20 years old and did not speak English. She met a tutor from Lincoln Literacy and began taking English classes. As her English improved, she was hired as a van driver, childcare provider, coordinator, and then associate director. In her current role, she oversees over $700,000 in grants and multiple staff members. She has now worked for Lincoln Literacy for over 15 years and is responsible for connecting thousands of students to classes and resources.
This year, Lincoln Literacy is celebrating student achievements, volunteer tutor dedication, and a record number of students served. It served a total of 1,663 adult learners in 2023, a 50% increase compared to 2022. As of September 30, 2024, the organization has already served over 1,800 adults and expects to serve over 2,000 students in one year for the first time. Students are also growing in their skills, with 76% improving by at least one level on their English assessment.
In addition to Sandra’s speech, the Global Celebration will feature a plated dinner and cash bar with table service provided by The Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel. If you plan to attend, please let the Lincoln Literacy team know if you have any dietary requirements, and they will be happy to accommodate you. The evening will include some social time, traditional Ukrainian music and a Kokyo Taiko drum performance, speakers discussing and sharing stories about their different home cultures, and a cultural art sample.
“I’m so proud of our work at Lincoln Literacy to maximize potential,” says Executive Director Bryan Seck. “Thanks to our dedicated community, 185 volunteer tutors, and 43 staff members, we have grown by 90% in two years! We now operate six 15-passenger vans and teach at twelve businesses, eight other community locations, and our own new building. Also, with our two new driving simulators, we are helping students discover all our community has to offer by helping them gain the freedom of driving. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Lincoln Literacy as we head into 2025.”
Stepping up as the leadership sponsor for this event is Joe and Chris Stone. Joining them are premier sponsors ALLO Fiber, Duncan Aviation, Nelnet, Inc., The Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel, TMCO, and Union Bank & Trust. Lincoln Literacy thanks all their generous corporate, foundation, and individual sponsors. Sponsorship information is available on the event ticket page.
Tickets are still available and may be purchased for $65 each through the non-profit’s website, www.LincolnLiteracy.org. A portion of all ticket sales, donations, and sponsorships are tax-deductible.
More about Lincoln Literacy
Established in 1972, Lincoln Literacy is an award-winning, community-based 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. It has grown to become the community’s leader in helping people gain the English language skills they need to become productive citizens and attain living-wage jobs.
In partnership with Lincoln Public Schools, Bryan Health, Lincoln City Libraries, United Way, Goodwill, Grace Lutheran, and many others, and with the help of over 185 trained volunteer tutors, Lincoln Literacy can offer free English language classes at multiple locations six days a week to adults of any age. Childminding and transportation are provided to allow adults to attend classes.
In addition to language and literacy classes, program participants have the opportunity to sign up for occupational skills classes. Lincoln Literacy offers School Jobs prep, CNA prep, GED prep, and CDL prep classes. It also collaborates in a manufacturing certification class offered by the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development. Through its Workplace Learning program, the non-profit helps businesses find and retain skilled and literate workers and unleashes adults’ ability to thrive on the job.
