History
The Literacy Council celebrates 60 years of providing adult literacy programs in Frederick County, serving over 9,250 adults and their families. Learn More A new manufacturing employer, Bimbo Bakeries USA, joined the Workplace Literacy Program. Classes begin in 2023. Our 8th Celebration of Achievements was back in person again at the Delaplaine Arts Center on November 3rd. It was a joyful occasion recognizing our… The Literacy Council welcomed more new staff to help with our growing programs. The Program Coordinator position added hours and became a shared position, and… ScrabbleMania for Literacy was back in person held at a new venue, Olde Mother Brewing Company. The silent auction was held online and open for… Adult learners, volunteers, and Board and community members gathered virtually on December 10th to celebrate the publication of the 4th edition of the Literacy Council’s… The Board of Directors and Staff develop a new strategic plan to lead the Literacy Council’s work for the next three years. Our new vision,… The Literacy Council’s entrance was transformed into a curbside celebration to recognize and thank our wonderful volunteers who donated their time to help our adult… The position of Program Coordinator was added to our staff. ScrabbleMania for Literacy was held virtually in partnership with SureLocked In Escape Games and the silent auction was held online. a manufacturing employer, ProList, Inc., joined the Workplace Literacy Program Adult learners, volunteers, and Board and community members gathered virtually on December 10th to celebrate the publication of the 3rd edition of the Literacy Council’s… Our 7th annual Celebration of Achievements, held virtually, is a tribute to the remarkable achievements of our adult learners this year. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, our… At its Annual Membership Meeting on October 21, 2020, the Tourism Council of Frederick County’s Board President Scott Wisnom announced that the Literacy Council is the recipient… Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the office shut down on March 16 for many months. By April classes and tutoring had resumed on virtual platforms,… The Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington selected the Literacy Council of Frederick County to be part of its Class of 2019-20. The Literacy Council underwent… A new Workplace English class has been added for the Hospitality industry. Workplace English instructors visit local job sites to teach the English skills that non-native… The Literacy Council continues to increase its staff to better serve our community. A Program Manager has been hired to oversee our Basic Literacy and… The Literacy Council held its first donor reception to honor the founding members of The Campaign for Literacy Giving Societies which were established by the Board… Reflections – Voices of English Learners is a compilation of stories, poems and art written by Literacy Council students with their newly learned English skills…. Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner proclaimed June 11, 2018 “Literacy Council of Frederick County Day,” to thank the Literacy Council for 55 years of service… The Literacy Council added a new position to its growing staff. The Workplace Literacy Program Coordinator will facilitate our program to teach English skills to… A new three-year Strategic Plan was developed by the Literacy Council Board of Directors to establish goals that build on our Mission, Vision and Core… A new in-depth website featuring information for students and tutors, videos, upcoming events, ways to donate and more has launched. The website is available to… Formal collaboration with Frederick Community College begins. This will help assure that students are being placed in the best program for them—either at the Literacy… The Literacy Council held their first annual Scabble™ Mania for Literacy as a major fundraiser for the organization. The event included a competitive Scrabble™ game… The Unity Campaign again selects the Literacy Council as a cause supported by the Unity Campaign for Frederick County. Literacy Council staff, volunteers and students… Ayse Meze Lounge calls on the Literacy Council to offer a Restaurant English class to staff. The Literacy Council is chosen as a beneficiary in the second Unity Campaign for Frederick County. Literacy Council staff, volunteers and students participate in the… The Literacy Council’s new Giving Societies were announced by Board member Ric Adams at the Celebration of Achievements held on May 12, 2015. These Giving… Longtime president, tutor trainer, and volunteer par excellence Caroline Gaver receives the Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Annapolis. The first restaurant English language program is launched with staff at Brewer’s Alley, a Frederick restaurant. Magic Foot Spa and its employees followed soon after. Diana Halleman, the Literacy Council’s Office Manager/Volunteer Coordinator received the Community Foundation’s Wertheimer Award for Excellence in Volunteerism for her years of service to the… The Literacy Council hires a part-time Executive Director, making important strides in expanding services to more adults and broadening cooperation with other community agencies. The first Unity Campaign for Frederick County selects the Literacy Council as one of the organizations to benefit from its fundraising efforts. The Literacy Council inaugurates an annual “Celebration of Achievements” reception at the Delaplaine Arts Center to honor the work of its students and tutors. Also this year, the Asian American Center of Frederick collaborates with the Literacy Council to offer an English language class. AACF English class student Cho… The Literacy Council celebrates its 50th anniversary with an event at the Weinberg Center featuring speaker David Brooks, nationally known political and social commentator. The Community Foundation bestows the Wertheimer Fellow for Excellence in Volunteerism Award to long-time volunteer Caroline Gaver. The Literacy Council launches its first Five-Year Strategic Plan, aiming to expand the organization to serve more adult learners. The Literacy Council hires its first employee, a part-time office manager/volunteer coordinator, allowing the office to be open on a regular basis. The Betty Seligmann Literacy Endowment Fund is established by the Literacy Council at the Community Foundation of Frederick County. Dr. Robert Laubach (“Dr. Bob”) of Laubach Literacy Action in Syracuse, NY, speaks at Literacy Council annual meeting. He is the son of Laubach Each… The Literacy Council wins the Outstanding Special Initiative Award at the Laubach Literacy Action National Awards for Excellence. Sister Mary Jerome McGinley is certified as a tutor and goes on to establish the Marguerite Naseau Literacy Center at Provincial House in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Tutoring of inmates at the Frederick Detention Center begins and The Maryland Correctional Institution in Hagerstown asks the Literacy Council to train inmates to tutor… The Literacy Council receives the J C Penney Golden Rule award Betty Seligmann is the first Frederick County recipient of the “Maryland, You Are Beautiful” award, in honor of her 20 years of service to the… The Literacy Council establishes the Engle Memorial Fund, using most of the donations to fund an outreach effort in Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties. As… Norman Paul, a retired engineer from Johns Hopkins University, obtains tutor certification through the Literacy Council and begins working in detention centers. From there he… The Literacy Council moves to the new C. Burr Artz Library in Frederick. The first workshop to train tutors to help new immigrants from southeast Asia learn English was taught by master trainer Martha Lane of Philadelphia. English as a Second Language programming begins helping the many Southeast Asian immigrants coming to Frederick County. 19 volunteers receive training in the Laubach method of teaching reading. Kay Mackley and Dolly Engle, along with others from Church Women United, officially founded Frederick County Laubach Literacy—later to become the Literacy Council of Frederick… Church Women United in Frederick County begins a migrant ministry project and soon discovers that many migrant farm workers—and thousands of other adults in Frederick… Dr. Frank C. Laubach, working among remote tribes people in the Philippines, invents a technique that teaches reading by linking pictures with words and symbols….
2023 – Lifting Lives through Literacy for 60 years
2022 – New Workplace Literacy Program Partner
2022 – 8th Celebration of Achievements
2022 – New Staff
2022 – ScrabbleMania for Literacy
2022 – Reflections: Voices of English Learners
2022 – A New Strategic Plan
2021 – Curbside Funnel Cake Thank You
2021 – New Position at the Literacy Council of Frederick County
2021 – ScrabbleMania for Literacy
2021 – A New Workplace Literacy Program Partner
2020 – Reflections: Voices of English Learners
2020 – 7th annual Celebration of Achievements
2020 – LCFC Receives Ambassador of the Year Award
2020 – LCFC Offers Distance Learning During Covid-19
2019 – LCFC Named ‘One of the Best’ Nonprofits by the Catalogue for Philanthropy
2019 – New Class Added for Hospitality Industry
2018 – Program Manager Position Added
2018 – First Donor Reception
2018 – First Edition of New Literary Magazine
2018 – 55th Anniversary Commemorated
2018 – Workplace Literacy Program Coordinator Hired
2018 – New Strategic Plan Developed
2017 – New Website Launches
2017 – New Partner
2016 – First Scrabble™ Mania for Literacy
2016 – 3rd Unity Campaign for Frederick County
2016 – Second Restaurant English Class
2015 – More Unity Support
2015 – New Giving Societies Announced
2015 – Governor’s Award
2015 – Workplace English
2014 – Volunteer Recognition Award
2014 – First Executive Director Hired
2014 – Community Support
2014 – First Annual Celebration of Achievements
2014 – Collaboration Begins with AACF
2013 – 50 Years
2012 – Volunteer Recognition Award
2012 – Planning Ahead
2011 – First Employee Hired
2002 – Endowment Fund
1994 – Dr. Laubach Speaks
1992 – Excellence Recognition
1991 – Expanding North
Early 1990’s – Programs for Inmates
1988 – Award Bestowed
1987 – State Honors Advocate
1985 – Beyond Frederick
1982 – Volunteer Tutors 400
1982 – New Home
1978 – First ESL Tutor Training Workshop
1977 – Reaching Out to Immigrants
1963 – First Tutor Training Workshop
1963 – The Official Beginning
1959 – Migrant Ministry
1930 – Each One Teach One