2010 - 2011 ANNUAL REPORTwww.lvgh.org

Letter from the Executive Director

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Happy 39th to LVGH!

In my experience, 39 is a time when you hope to be hitting your stride. A time when you carry optimism about the future, tempered a bit, perhaps, by maturity. A time when you feel confident enough to try something new, but don’t feel the need to reinvent yourself.

The same could be said about LVGH at 39.

Our program is recognized

as the premier community-

based literacy organization

in the region. We lead an

effort to develop a coordi-

nated, information, referral,

and placement system for

adult literacy and workforce

services in Greater Hartford.

LVGH is represented on a

regional board that is devel-

oping the strategic plan for

the delivery of adult literacy

and workforce programs and

we’ve developed a commu-

nity-based service delivery

model that we hope to repli-

cate in underserved commu-

nities around the area.

Our students continue to

demonstrate strong achieve-

ment scores and meet their

personal educational goals.

This year several became

new citizens and many

gained the skills they needed

to get jobs and promotions.

Others bought their first

homes and some became

the first college graduate in

their families.

Our engaged community of

over 200 volunteers didn’t

just teach 650 students this

year. They made it possible

for us to offer more math

classes at more levels and

to extend our Citizenship

classes. They worked to

prepare students for our new

GED class. With our part-

ners at the Prosser Library,

they helped build our new

Wintonbury Literacy Center

to an enrollment of over 50

students. Our Board and

fundraising volunteers raised

more funds than ever in the

history of the agency. Our

donors were more generous

than ever.

Thanks to the collective

energy and support of this

community, I’d say we’re

hitting our stride.

At 39, we did have to try on

something new this year - a

new logo and a new website

to be unveiled shortly. We

think our new logo reflects

LVGH in 2011: optimistic

about the future, trendy but

grounded, a blending of

colors, people, and experi-

ences that make this place as

unique and strong as it is.

Carol “CJ” Hauss, Executive Director

StaffCarol “CJ” Hauss, Executive Director

Stephanie Schenkel, Assistant Director

Miriam Lopez, Administrative Assistant

Mark Briggs, Program Development Director

Paula Beninato, ESOL Program Manager

Rose Howard, Basic Literacy Program Manager

Penny Sigal, Community Engagement Specialist

Margie Arroyo, Program Assistant

Jared Chase, Program Assistant

Nicole Jenkins, Program Assistant

Sara LeMaster, Wickham Center Program Assistant

Madeleine Dailey, Student Intern

Elizabeth Greenberg, Student Intern

David Hauss, Student Intern

Sarah Marks, Student Intern

Rachel Waitzman, Student Intern

Alawia Ali, CREC Intern

Stanislow Mursula, CREC Intern

Board of Directors

Gene Evans, Chair

Richard H. Agins, Vice Chairman

Robert J. Fiondella, Treasurer

Christopher Johnson, Secretary

Elizabeth Aiken

Nancy A. Brennan

Nanci Fox

Barri Marks

Joan McCarthy Gentile

Giuliana Musilli

Peg Newton

Lou Schiavone

Cengiz Searfoss

Andrea Sheldon

Jas Singh

Rita Trivedi

Hartford Literacy Center

30 Arbor StreetHartford, CT 06106

Phone: (860) 233-3853Fax: (860) 236-1640

Wickham Literacy Center

Wickham Library656 Burnside Avenue

East Hartford, CT 06108

Wintonbury Literacy Center

Prosser Public Library Wintonbury Branch

1015 Blue Hills AvenueBloomfield, CT 06002

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VOLUNTEERSElizabeth AikenBethany AlvordAnn ArcariMargie ArroyoMandeep BajwaMary BannonChristine Baptiste-McCallaMarie BastarachePaul and Vivian BattersonJanette BaxterMaureen BechardMarva BeckfordDiana BelbrunoJack BotelhoJune BraySybille Brewer, MDMaureen BrousseauMike BrunsMichelle CampbellCaris CarrDeborah CarsonDavid CarterJared ChaseChristine ChipmanDiane ChristensenDespina ClarkPaul ClarkLinda CohanLinda CohnJeremy CollingsSusan CosmaLois Davis JamesLorraine DonagherCathy DonahueJean DonahueRobert DoyleCindy DrozdMeg DuffyBen EngelThomas EysmansLisa FarringtonEmmy FastJoan Fine

Nanci FoxMarlis GageDavid GojowiakMary-Jane Gately Daniel GauthierJennifer GeislerLynn GelinasThomas GiesenCordell GoulbourneDean HamptonOnika HarryPaul HartungDavid HaussJohn HebertBeverly HeckelRebecca HeckerMark HennessyJanine HewittCalvin Hood-HughesRichard HuntleyMary Ellen JacobsNancy JacobsKathleen JensenChristopher JohnsonPeter JonesJeffrey KaimowitzJoshua KaplanCourtney KaytisLea Kessler Shaw

Paul KnierimByron KopelJudith KulakCarla KushinKen LareauSusan LareauPaula LawlessStephanie LeaphartTheresa LearyJo-Ann LebelSuzanne LindblomSherry LohrCarol LoomisMartha LottBarbara MaidelisMelinda MailhotCynthia MalmLeta MarksJackie McBeeNatalie MendesLynn MetzDebbie MidfordClifford MooreMargaret MooreSandra Mulcahy Rebecca NatalePeg NewtonYuletzi NiedbalaJulie Niggebrugge

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Karyn O’DonnellStacy OwensKathleen PalaiaNeha PandeDarryl ParsleyJo-Ann ParylakRich PearsonVictor PerezDaniel PianoBeth PolioWendy PosnerRichard PragerElizabeth ReillySandra Smith-Resony Brendan RocheEileen RocheMonica RockefellerJanet RosenblattCrystal RossFarhad SadighiNatasha SamuelsCarol SchmidtLynne SchoenCynthia SchulzJerry ScottNancy SewellPatricia ShanahanMichael ShauckAndrea Sheldon

Penny SigalJohn Simmons, IIIPamela SimonChristine SkellyLaurel SoperPam SpinazolaSally StarrBecky Swanson-BowersPhil TalbotLisa TerwilligerKatharine ThomasTyrone ThorntonDennis TottenMary-Jane TraskaEdna TravisRita TrivediJocelyn TurnerLori TurnerRachel WaitzmanMark WallerMichelle WeathersJudy WhitcombKeith WhitescarverFrank WildtNancy WildtHila YanaiCheryl Zinker

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“I did it because I

moved here when I

was five from

Venezuela, and

witnessed all of the

struggles my

parents went

through as adults

new to the United

States culture.

Seeing how hard

it was first hand

motivated me to help

others.”

–Yuletzi Niedbala on

becoming an ESOL

tutor

Individual Donors

Publishers Society (Gifts over $1500)

Nancy A. BrennanSybille Brewer, MDSteve and Emmy FastRobert J. and Michele FiondellaNeale and Carol HaussTed and Adlyn LoewenthalMichael and Elizabeth ReillySteve and Penny Sigal

Editors League(Gifts of $1000 - $1499)

Peter and Gene Evans

Authors League (Gifts of $500 - $999)Elizabeth AikenPhilip and Phoebe AllenJim and Joan BettsJared ChaseJohn and Barbara DonahueNanci FoxRichard and Joan GentileRobert and Francine GoldfarbSimon Hollander FundMary Jean KilfoilBarri MarksPeg NewtonDarryl ParsleyRob and Stephanie SchenkelScott Schooley and Giuliana MusilliBrian and Andrea SheldonJas SinghRita TrivediRon and Ruth Van Winkle

Writers Circle (Gifts of $250 - $499)

Robert D. and Donna BatchStuart and Bran BerniThomas and Deborah CarsonCheryl Chase and Stuart Bear

Robert Doyle and Lorraine Grodovich, DMDAaron Hollander FundChristopher and Gail JohnsonSarah Ann E. LeakeJoseph MarfuggiRichard and Robin PearsonAvery and Monica RockefellerThomas and Sarael SargentJohn and Marcia WilkinsonPeter M. and Ellen Zeman

Readers Circle (Gifts of $100 - $249)

Paul and Vivian BattersonLarry and Jean BerkwittJoan E. BrownGale BushnellCaris CarrPaul and Despina ClarkTrygve CooleyCarol CovelloEvan Cowles and Brie QuinbyJames CurryEthel F. DavisBill and Doris DavisDenise deFiebreMark Deming and Linda SchofieldCathy DonahueThomas Eysmans and Sheila DenionJoseph and Ann FichandlerDaniel and Joan FineJoan GalliherDaniel and Bonnie GauthierClayton and Edith GengrasDr. James B. GivenVictoria GonzalezKenneth and Gail HamblettSally HayesBeverly HeckelJohn W. HincksJames and Mary Ellen JacobsNancy Jacobs

Michael and Vicki KonoverCraig Leroy and Bethany AlvordAnn LeventhalDan and Sherry LohrJames and Carol LoomisThomas and Hollace LorchStuart and Martha LottAustin and Linda LydonKevin and Denise LynchMelinda MailhotHarry and Mary MeyerDavid and Suzie NewmanJohn and Sara O’ConnellEmily W. RankinGary and Diane RansomPeter and Betsy RussellJoseph and Mary SargentEarl and Cynthia SchulzPaul and Beth SciarraPatricia A. ScullySteven and Janet SeldenJohn E. SimmonsChristine and Ross SkellyJanet SodellDennis TottenBernard Adams and Edna TravisKatherine Hart and William UricchioMariana P. WagonerJeffrey and Mary Zeman

Friends Circle (Gifts of up to $99)

Robert and Judith AndersonDan and Jane ArnoldLorraine M. AronsonCecile BakerBarbara BarnesStephen BeckerDebbie BlotnerNoreen ChannelsAlastair and Dorothy ClarkLinda CohanHenry and Linda CohnJoyce Coleman

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Steven Richenbacher and Andree CorrRobert and Susan CosmaJames and Debra DavisMary C. DoughertyWoody ExleyLaura FraserMichael and Patricia FreedmanMary-Jane GatelyKate Busch GervaisPaula GilbertoBetty and Mary GuineyPaul HartungLois HarwickJonathan and Dorothy HatchJohn V. HebertKathleen JensenJulia Ann JohnsonShirley JuranMichael and Esther KahnJosiah and Jeanne KirbyDavid KlineStanley KotzkerRevs. Robert and Fidelia Lane

Sylvia LazarusW. Harmon and Elizabeth LeeteGeorge and Mary MalesLeta MarksWilliam and Joanne MarriottRob and Lynn MetzIrvin and Joyce MigliettaMargaret MooreJanice NiehausRoy and Nancy NormenKenneth and Claudia NunnArthur and Marion O’DonnellSalvatore and Kathleen PalaiaVictor PerezWendy PosnerJudy ReedJames Resony and Sandra Smith-ResonyNancy RoggeveenJoseph and Janet RosenblattDouglas and Linda RothHelen Roth

Michael and Kathleen SanteseConstance and Nancy SewellDaniel and Lynn SharpMichael and Jane ShauckCallie SigalAlan StavolaEdward and Marilyn StocktonJohn and Leslie StophelTeresa SuganskiPat and Kathleen SullivanJahala Ann TomaselliJames H. TorreyMary-Jane TraskaJocelyn TurnerSherry ValleeRobert and Elizabeth von DohlenJudith WawroFrank and Nancy WildtKathryn WinkelerMark and Laura Zielinski

Honorary GiftsEmily Adams In honor of Mary Bannon

Loretta Berry In honor of Mary Ryter

Arnold and Sandy Chase In honor of Rhoda and David Chase

Norman and Sonna Loewenthal In honor of Adlyn Loewenthal

Floyd and Robie Parsley In honor of Darryl Parsley

Joyce Peters In honor of The Peters Family

Jonathan Reilly In honor of Elizabeth Reilly

Brenda Roggeveen In honor of: The Tamaccios, The Claflins, The Worth Family, The Hawkins Fam-ily, The Robbins Family, Tom and Holly Lorch, Nancy Roggeveen, Margaret and Bob Patricelli, Mrs. M.K. Gilmore, The Girards

Richard and Dianne Rumsey In honor of Penny Sigal

Zachary Sigal In honor of Penny Sigal

Memorial GiftsChristopher R. and Jane BrewsterIn memory of Ralph A. Brewster

Raymond J. Carnelli Sr. In memory of Bob Steele

Richard and Ann CohenIn memory of Gilbert Steinberg

Lynne CubberlyIn memory of Shaughn W. Cubberly

Richard and Mary Louise FitzgeraldIn memory of John Balzac

Neale and Carol HaussIn memory of Bea Rosenberg

Alice H. Jones In memory of Robert P. Jones

Jeffrey and Llyn KaimowitzIn memory of Ralph Conrad

Brendan and Austin B. LynchIn memory of Stella McCauley

Barri Marks In memory of Barbara Hauss

Thomas Reich In memory of Bea Rosenberg

Claire Riley In memory of Martha Fazzano

Susan J. Roman In memory of Larry Johnson

Hon. Nicola E. RubinowIn memory of Martha Fazzano

Rob and Stephanie SchenkelIn memory of Bea Rosenberg

Robert Sigman In memory of Tracy Sigman7

Corporate & Community Donors

Corporate and Foundation Support

Aldo DeDominicis FoundationAllied WorldThe Auerbach Schiro FoundationBeatrice Fox Auerbach FoundationBell-Carman Family FoundationBissell FoundationComcastFisher FoundationThe Fund for Greater HartfordHartford Foundation for Public GivingJanice Couture Greenberg FoundationLincoln Financial FoundationLong FoundationMichael Norman Cohen & AssociatesNew Alliance FoundationNutmeg FoundationOwenoke FoundationSorenson-Pearson Family Foundation

Community Support

Church of the Holy FamilyOxford High School Booster ClubSomers Book ClubUnited Way of Central and Northeastern ConnecticutUnited Way of Greater WaterburyUnited Way of the Pioneer ValleyUnited Way of Southeastern PennsylvaniaVernon Junior Women’s Club

In-Kind Support

Aspire PicturesChristopher and Gail JohnsonRebecca NataleNortheast Utilities FoundationOstro DesignTangoBKM Total Office

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“It is hard when

people ask me a

question in

English because I

think in Spanish.

I want to learn

how to speak

English and be

able to think in

English too so

that I can

become a teacher

in America. In Peru

I was a teacher

and my dream is

to be able to teach

again.”

– ESOL student

Corporate & Community Donors Income Sources FY 2010-2011 (unaudited)

GED ProgramIn collaboration with the Adult Education Center in Hartford and our neighbors at Family Life Education, we’re offering a Gen-eral Education Development (GED) program to help students brush up on their skills and gain the credentials they need to get jobs.

Student OutreachSpread the word about LVGH! This year, we’re developing an outreach plan and mak-ing extra efforts to reach students in targeted areas like East Hartford and Bloomfield.

Expanded ElectivesWatch for new programming to come in the next year. To meet the diverse needs of students, our unique course offerings will in-clude Driver’s Ed, Basic Computers, an ESOL conversation class, and a job skills course.

Annual Fundraising EventDon’t miss fabulous auction items and an evening of eating, drinking, and dancing! Our 3rd annual Eat. Drink. Dance. Read. Learn. Grow. event will take place at the Farmington Club on March 31st.

What’s Coming in 2011-2012?

Private Grants.......................$210,750

Government Grants.............$163,000

Fundraising Activities.........$113,696

United Way............................$41,373

Misc.........................................$11,792

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Special Events

Event CommitteeRobert J. Fiondella, ChairGene EvansNanci FoxGiuliana MusilliPeg NewtonCengiz SearfossAmy Sills

PatronsElizabeth AikenWilliam and Martha AmanPaul and Jan AtkinsDirk and Bonnie AubePeter and Kate AysonJean Francois and Michele BeauleStephen BeckerBill and Darlene BeckertLarry and Jean BerkwittStuart and Bran BerniKaren BorlaShirley BoronJohn and Kim BowenGregory BradleyNancy A. BrennanSybille Brewer, MDMark BriggsPhilip BucchiJane Capaldi

Caris CarrEllen CarterVito and Anne CatilloVincent Cervoni and Jane CallananCarl ChadburnPaul and Despina ClarkBrian and Denise ConnollyJames and Lynn CrumWilliam Cuddy and Vivian BlackfordJames and Debra DavisThomas James and Lois Davis JamesJames Du Mond and Lisa ColeCalvin and Roy Ann James EllerbeeBen and Joan EngelAlexandra EtzelPeter and Gene EvansDaniel and Joan FineRobert J. and Michele FiondellaBrian and Allison FresherMary-Jane GatelyDaniel and Bonnie GauthierRichard and Joan GentileMichelle GrandePhil and Stephanie GrowickPaul and Victoria Guertin

Neale and Carol HaussJohn and Trish HessleinDennis and Kara HouseRosemary JacobJames and Mary Ellen JacobsNancy JacobsPat JohnsChristopher and Gail JohnsonAnn Foxen KennyLinda KirbusDavid KlineGary KlinzmannRonald KucenskiPatrick and Alexandra LeeW. Harmon and Elizabeth LeeteAnn LeventhalLarry and Suzanne LevereStuart and Martha LottJay and Geri MandellBarri MarksJohn McNamaraOlinda MoralesLawrence MowellSenthil and Hema NathanSteve NesticoPeg NewtonCoralie OdomsMark and Dianne OrensteinStacy M. OwensHenry and Janie PalasekDarryl ParsleySarit and Lisa PatelMichael and Elizabeth ReillyKenneth and Bonnie Cummins RobsonNed and Norma RoginDavid and Linda RothSean RourkeIra Rubenzahl and Abigail DolingerMark and Bethany RyanJohn and Judy SchaeferScott Schooley and Giuliana Musilli

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Cengiz and Jennifer SearfossSteven and Janet SeldenBrian and Andrea SheldonSteve and Penny SigalEd SilvaCarlene A. SimpsonJas SinghChristine and Ross SkellyRobert and Sharon SmithTyler Smith and Lyn WalkerEliot and Carrie StreimRosemarie SwiatkiewiczMartin and Dorine ToyenJayshree and Bharat TrivediJames Tsui and Julie TseJohn WaggettDavid and Marcia WaitzmanDebbie WiacekFrank and Nancy WildtRichard Wilson and Helene KvaleJohn and Judy Zinn

Auction DonorsElizabeth AikenAvery’s BeveragesBarcelona Restaurant & Wine BarBasketball Hall of FameBeverly Hills Limousine of CTKaren BorlaBushnell Center for Performing ArtsCarbone’s RistoranteChrysalis DesignsConnecticut Science Centerda CapoDish Restaurant GroupPeter and Gene Evans

Robert J. and Michele FiondellaGallery SalonGolf Club of AvonHartford StageNeale and Carol HaussHighland MarketJeffrey and Llyn KaimowitzLarge & Page CommunicationsLerner & CompanyTed and Adlyn LoewenthalStuart and Martha LottM & R LiquorsBarri MarksMax Restaurant GroupRob and Lynn MetzMichael Christopher’s BistroMonarch JewelersNew Britain Rock CatsPeg NewtonPlayhouse on ParkQuarry FarmsRein’s DeliSteve and Penny SigalSimone SignaturesChristine and Ross SkellyTallulah’s CateringMary-Jane TraskaRita TrivediVictoria’s Beauty CenterWadsworth Atheneum Museum of ArtWest Side Wines and SpiritWine Cellars 4

Corporate SponsorsAetnaAlstom PowerBingham McCutchenGeeks for GoodHaymond Law FirmJerob EnterprisesMcElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & CarpenterMichael Christopher’s BistroMillimanOut of Home AmericaThe Michael Carlson AgencyTravelersTsui & TseTurnbull RealtyWealth Preservation PartnersWhittlesey & Hadley

“It started about

six months ago

when my five

year old daughter

asked me to read

her a book. I could

hardly read it. She

said “Mom, why

can’t you read?”

“Why are you not

smart?” I felt so

ashamed and so

bad that I could not

help my daughter.

The very next day I

enrolled in class at

LVGH.”

– Basic Literacy

student

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