Limit Poverty Through Literacy
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A SINGLE MOM'S DILEMMA
Jennifer desperately wants a better life for her children. She is embarrassed to admit that she is functionally illiterate but does not want her children to continue to suffer the consequences of her past decisions. She has to work minimum wage jobs that do not require her to fill out an application. Money is always tight. She knows that she needs to learn to read, but getting to the literacy class is not easy. Her work schedule keeps changing. She does not have a car and the bus schedule does not coincide with the class schedule. How can she break the poverty cycle when all her energy is focused on making sure that she and her children survive?
OBSTACLES WITH A HUGE COST
Jen's story is not unique. There are thousands of functionally illiterate women (including 70% of women in homeless shelters!) like her that are economically trapped. Illiteracy practically GUARANTEES poverty. Learning to read takes time, but there are many obstacles to getting help. Over time, these obstacles create depression that cause people to give up hope. Or worse, it creates desperation. Illiteracy not only leads to lower education and employment rate, it is also linked to increased crime, incarceration, and has a high social and economic cost.
A SIMPLE SOLUTION BORN AT A PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY
Literacy Impacting Futures Today (LIFT) was founded so participants can work on their literacy skills anywhere. LIFT uses award winning software (developed at MIT) with proven results on tablets. People like Jen can take the tablet and work on their literacy at home, on lunch breaks, on the bus or anywhere they have a few minutes to spare. The class goes with them . . . and it works!
The cost of LIFTing people out of poverty with a hand UP rather than a hand out is only $500 per person. This is an investment in skills that gives an opportunity for self sufficiency rather than dependence. It gives inspiration rather than desperation. It restores dignity and hope. That is the ultimate WIN/WIN for all of us.
EVERYTHING GOES DIRECTLY TO HELPING MOMS AND KIDS
LIFT has agreed to work with 40+ women at local homeless shelters for our pilot program. We are using a grassroots effort to get our pilot program started. Each donation whether it is $1 or over $1000 will go directly to getting LIFT launched and our program into the hands of willing participants.
Many local organizations and foundations recognize our potential and have offered us grants beginning in 2015. However, we have to prove that private donors are willing to provide us support also.
TWO THINGS SO YOU CAN HELP MOMS LIKE JENNIFER
Please donate anything you can. (Yes, even $1 helps) And share this with ALL your friends. Encourage them to do the same. In order to reach our goal, this needs to go viral!!
I can't begin to thank you enough for your support.
Honey
(P.S. The founder of LIFT, Honey Valuikas has been a full-time urban missionary in Oklahoma City for over 2 years managing a non-profit and working with other foundations to help homeless and other working poor. The idea for LIFT was developed after recognizing an unmet need. Due to obstacles like transportation, childcare, work schedules, different learning styles, ESL and just plain pride to name a few; current literacy programs miss out being able to reach our hardest working poor. Other skills training programs are largely ineffective as most participants CAN'T READ!
Honey teamed up with Mr. Jeff Butler, a leader in the community in the fight to improve literacy for children in the classroom. Together they decided to develop a unique foundation focused on literacy solutions that work.)
Jennifer desperately wants a better life for her children. She is embarrassed to admit that she is functionally illiterate but does not want her children to continue to suffer the consequences of her past decisions. She has to work minimum wage jobs that do not require her to fill out an application. Money is always tight. She knows that she needs to learn to read, but getting to the literacy class is not easy. Her work schedule keeps changing. She does not have a car and the bus schedule does not coincide with the class schedule. How can she break the poverty cycle when all her energy is focused on making sure that she and her children survive?
OBSTACLES WITH A HUGE COST
Jen's story is not unique. There are thousands of functionally illiterate women (including 70% of women in homeless shelters!) like her that are economically trapped. Illiteracy practically GUARANTEES poverty. Learning to read takes time, but there are many obstacles to getting help. Over time, these obstacles create depression that cause people to give up hope. Or worse, it creates desperation. Illiteracy not only leads to lower education and employment rate, it is also linked to increased crime, incarceration, and has a high social and economic cost.
A SIMPLE SOLUTION BORN AT A PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY
Literacy Impacting Futures Today (LIFT) was founded so participants can work on their literacy skills anywhere. LIFT uses award winning software (developed at MIT) with proven results on tablets. People like Jen can take the tablet and work on their literacy at home, on lunch breaks, on the bus or anywhere they have a few minutes to spare. The class goes with them . . . and it works!
The cost of LIFTing people out of poverty with a hand UP rather than a hand out is only $500 per person. This is an investment in skills that gives an opportunity for self sufficiency rather than dependence. It gives inspiration rather than desperation. It restores dignity and hope. That is the ultimate WIN/WIN for all of us.
EVERYTHING GOES DIRECTLY TO HELPING MOMS AND KIDS
LIFT has agreed to work with 40+ women at local homeless shelters for our pilot program. We are using a grassroots effort to get our pilot program started. Each donation whether it is $1 or over $1000 will go directly to getting LIFT launched and our program into the hands of willing participants.
Many local organizations and foundations recognize our potential and have offered us grants beginning in 2015. However, we have to prove that private donors are willing to provide us support also.
TWO THINGS SO YOU CAN HELP MOMS LIKE JENNIFER
Please donate anything you can. (Yes, even $1 helps) And share this with ALL your friends. Encourage them to do the same. In order to reach our goal, this needs to go viral!!
I can't begin to thank you enough for your support.
Honey
(P.S. The founder of LIFT, Honey Valuikas has been a full-time urban missionary in Oklahoma City for over 2 years managing a non-profit and working with other foundations to help homeless and other working poor. The idea for LIFT was developed after recognizing an unmet need. Due to obstacles like transportation, childcare, work schedules, different learning styles, ESL and just plain pride to name a few; current literacy programs miss out being able to reach our hardest working poor. Other skills training programs are largely ineffective as most participants CAN'T READ!
Honey teamed up with Mr. Jeff Butler, a leader in the community in the fight to improve literacy for children in the classroom. Together they decided to develop a unique foundation focused on literacy solutions that work.)
Organizer
Honey R Valuikas
Organizer
Oklahoma City, OK
