During National Reading Month, we celebrate the importance of reading and promote a love of reading across America. We celebrate with the thousands of adults who have worked, or are working, to build their literacy skills so they, too, can experience the benefits and joy of reading. However, there are 43 million American adults who struggle to read beyond a third-grade level. 

In this new blog series, we interview some of our wonderful supporters about why they give to the adult literacy and education cause. We’re kicking off the series talking to Terrie Lipke, editorial director for ProLiteracy’s publishing division New Readers Press. 

Five years ago, Eric Brown read an article about a young man in the 12th grade who read at a second-grade level. Then, three months later, he read another report stating that 75 percent of young Black boys in the state of California could not read at grade level. “I found it to be so sad,” he said. “So, I asked myself, ‘What can I do to make a difference?’” 

Each year, we ask our member programs to submit data so we can compile the Annual Statistical Report, which gives a snapshot of the current trends within the adult literacy field. 

We are humbled to be in included in The Washington Post's advice column: Ask Amy. Columnist Amy Dickinson recognized ProLiteracy as a highly rated and worthy organization in her annual Charity Roundup.

Dickinson gives a nod of respect to Ruth Colvin for founding Literacy Volunteers of America in 1960—now ProLiteracy with more than 1,000 organizations across America and internationally. Ruth's work is evidence that one person can truly make a difference in the world.