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2023 – Lifting Lives through Literacy for 60 years

The Literacy Council celebrates 60 years of providing adult literacy programs in Frederick County, serving over 9,250 adults and their families. Learn More

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2022 – New Workplace Literacy Program Partner

A new manufacturing employer, Bimbo Bakeries USA, joined the Workplace Literacy Program.  Classes begin in 2023.

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2022 – 8th Celebration of Achievements

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…

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2022 – New Staff

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…

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2022 – ScrabbleMania for Literacy

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…

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2022 – Reflections: Voices of English Learners

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…

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2022 – A New Strategic Plan

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,…

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2021 – Curbside Funnel Cake Thank You

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…

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2021 – New Position at the Literacy Council of Frederick County

The position of Program Coordinator was added to our staff.

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2021 – ScrabbleMania for Literacy

ScrabbleMania for Literacy was held virtually in partnership with SureLocked In Escape Games and the silent auction was held online.

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2021 – A New Workplace Literacy Program Partner

a manufacturing employer, ProList, Inc., joined the Workplace Literacy Program

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2020 – Reflections: Voices of English Learners

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…

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2020 – 7th annual Celebration of Achievements

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…

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2020 – LCFC Receives Ambassador of the Year Award

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…

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2020 – LCFC Offers Distance Learning During Covid-19

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,…

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2019 – LCFC Named ‘One of the Best’ Nonprofits by the Catalogue for Philanthropy

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…

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2019 – New Class Added for Hospitality Industry

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…

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2018 – Program Manager Position Added

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…

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2018 – First Donor Reception

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…

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2018 – First Edition of New Literary Magazine

Reflections – Voices of English Learners is a compilation of stories, poems and art written by Literacy Council students with their newly learned English skills….

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2018 – 55th Anniversary Commemorated

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…

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2018 – Workplace Literacy Program Coordinator Hired

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…

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2018 – New Strategic Plan Developed

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…

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2017 – New Website Launches

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…

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2017 – New Partner

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…

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2016 – First Scrabble™ Mania for 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…

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2016 – 3rd Unity Campaign for Frederick County

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…

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2016 – Second Restaurant English Class

Ayse Meze Lounge calls on the Literacy Council to offer a Restaurant English class to staff.

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2015 – More Unity Support

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…

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2015 – New Giving Societies Announced

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…

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2015 – Governor’s Award

Longtime president, tutor trainer, and volunteer par excellence Caroline Gaver receives the Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Annapolis.

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2015 – Workplace English

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.

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2014 – Volunteer Recognition Award

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…

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2014 – First Executive Director Hired

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.

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2014 – Community Support

The first Unity Campaign for Frederick County selects the Literacy Council as one of the organizations to benefit from its fundraising efforts.

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2014 – First Annual Celebration of Achievements

The Literacy Council inaugurates an annual “Celebration of Achievements” reception at the Delaplaine Arts Center to honor the work of its students and tutors.

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2014 – Collaboration Begins with AACF

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…

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2013 – 50 Years

The Literacy Council celebrates its 50th anniversary with an event at the Weinberg Center featuring speaker David Brooks, nationally known political and social commentator.

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2012 – Volunteer Recognition Award

The Community Foundation bestows the Wertheimer Fellow for Excellence in Volunteerism Award to long-time volunteer Caroline Gaver.

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2012 – Planning Ahead

The Literacy Council launches its first Five-Year Strategic Plan, aiming to expand the organization to serve more adult learners.

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2011 – First Employee Hired

The Literacy Council hires its first employee, a part-time office manager/volunteer coordinator, allowing the office to be open on a regular basis.

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2002 – Endowment Fund

The Betty Seligmann Literacy Endowment Fund is established by the Literacy Council at the Community Foundation of Frederick County.

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1994 – Dr. Laubach Speaks

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…

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1992 – Excellence Recognition

The Literacy Council wins the Outstanding Special Initiative Award at the Laubach Literacy Action National Awards for Excellence.

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1991 – Expanding North

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.

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Early 1990’s – Programs for Inmates

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…

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1988 – Award Bestowed

The Literacy Council receives the J C Penney Golden Rule award

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1987 – State Honors Advocate

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…

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1985 – Beyond Frederick

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…

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1982 – Volunteer Tutors 400

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…

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1982 – New Home

The Literacy Council moves to the new C. Burr Artz Library in Frederick.

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1978 – First ESL Tutor Training Workshop

The first workshop to train tutors to help new immigrants from southeast Asia learn English was taught by master trainer Martha Lane of Philadelphia.

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1977 – Reaching Out to Immigrants

English as a Second Language programming begins helping the many Southeast Asian immigrants coming to Frederick County.

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1963 – First Tutor Training Workshop

19 volunteers receive training in the Laubach method of teaching reading.

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1963 – The Official Beginning

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…

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1959 – Migrant Ministry

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…

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1930 – Each One Teach One

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….

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