Dear Friends of Pro-Literacy Detroit,

This Holiday Season, we are asking you to share the gift of reading with those less fortunate. You can do this by making a tax-deductible financial contribution to ProLitracy Detroit. We are circulating this letter among those who have supported us in the past, and are hopeful that you will consider making a holiday gift of $5 to $20 or more. We want everyone to be able to afford to give. This year, we have provided literacy assistance to 75 elementary school children through our After-School and Summer Literacy Programs, and 500 adults through our Basic Literacy and Small Group Tutoring Programs.

Additionally we have recruited and trained 200 new tutors. We are proud to be able to serve our community by helping those in such great need of assistance. Our clients are unable to use reading, speaking, writing, and computational skills in everyday life situations. The statistics are staggering, 47% of adults in Detroit, 38% in Hamtramck, and 56% in Highland Park are illiterate. This issue is not just an education issue, but a social, economic and health issue as well. If Metropolitan Detroit is to become a world class city, illiteracy must be faced and eradicated.

You can be a part of the solution; your gift will be used to provide training and materials to those seeking help. We charge our clients $5.00 to cover the cost of testing; volunteer tutors are charged $25.00 to cover training and materials. The support of our friends enables us to keep our costs affordable. Again, please make a tax-deductible to support the services we provide to this community.

Make checks payable to Pro-Literacy Detroit, and mail to: Pro-Literac yDetroit, 3011 West Grand Boulevard, Suite 215, Detroit, Michigan 48202, before December 31, 2003.

May you have a Blessed Holiday and a Prosperous New Year,

Margaret Thorpe Williamson
Executive Director