Scholarship appeal | Letters | Summerville Journal Scene

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Scholarship appeal

Published Thursday, August 26, 2010 4:23 PM

Summerville Journal Scene ®

Dear Community,

What if you could help save the Summerville community $292,000 by investing $25?

$292,000 is the average cost to taxpayers over the working life of each high school dropout, according to the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University. Considering that approximately 5,000 adults in Summerville are in this category, we have a lot to lose – more than $35 million, in fact!

Statistics confirm that dropouts earn only a small fraction of what high school or college graduates earn. They are far more likely to be on welfare or in prison, and incur four times the annual health care costs.

Trident Literacy has consistently provided instruction to more than 150 adults annually in Summerville, helping them improve their reading and math skills, prepare for the GED or WorkKeys certification exam, and develop computer skills. All of these increase their chances of getting a decent job – all for the nominal fee of $5 per month.

Each of our students has a personal success story to share.

A mother of two young children, Kimberly learned about Trident Literacy through the Department of Social Services. “It has been a great deal for me,” she said, “I dropped out of school at 15 because I wanted to have fun. “Now I’m working on something important for me and my kids.”

Kimberly came to TLA to work towards her GED. She wants to be a veterinary technician, her dream since childhood. She now feels she has a chance to achieve that dream.

Beyond improving their basic skills, our students gain confidence and self-esteem.

“I didn’t believe in myself, but I’m beginning to believe and have confidence in myself.”…Connie

“It’s encouraging to meet people from so many difference age groups working on similar goals.”…Linda

“I couldn’t do this without the staff here. They never give up on me, so I never give up on myself.”…Dorothy

Due to the recession and other circumstances, Trident Literacy’s Summerville site was forced to close last year, leaving more than 150 students with no alternative to receive the special kind of self-paced, one-on-one instruction we provide.

These students, plus dozens more, are waiting for us to reopen so they can continue to work towards earning their GEDs and WorkKeys Certificates and become qualified for jobs.

We don’t want to let them down and we’re asking you to help!

We must raise $25,000 to reopen our doors in Summerville - a small price to pay to help people improve their skills so they can improve their lives and the lives of their families.

Our analyses show that as many as 300 adults could attend Trident Literacy at our new location in Summerville, and that in time, enrollment would grow far beyond that.

We’re asking you to please consider donating $25 or more to our Scholarship Fund to help us reach our goal. These funds will go towards student fees, educational materials, and operational costs and will help us provide one-on-one tutoring to give our Summerville students a chance. A chance they otherwise will not have.

Your donation of $25 or more will make a big difference.

Just ask Kimberly, Connie, Dorothy or Linda, or any of our more than 150 students in Summerville.

Trident Literacy exists through the generosity of our donors. Your contribution helps our students get the training they need to become productive, self-sufficient members of the community, able to qualify for jobs, provide for their families, be better parents, and reverse the tragic cycle of illiteracy and its burdens on our community - poverty, higher medical costs and incarceration.

Please give our students and the Summerville community the gift of hope for a financially better tomorrow.

Thank you for your support and generosity. With your help, we can make Summerville a better place for all of us!

Sincerely,

Judianne Schmenk

Director of Development

P.S. Won’t you please consider donating $25 or more to Trident Literacy’s Scholarship Fund to help impoverished adults get an education? Every investment of $25 helps save the taxpayer $292,000. If $25 is too much at this time, please consider $10 or $15 instead.

P.P.S. Please make your tax-deductible check payable to Trident Literacy Association mail to 5416-B Rivers Avenue, North Charleston. Or, you can donate online at http://tridentlit.org/scholarship.htm.

Again, I thank you for your support.

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104 East Doty Avenue | Summerville, SC 29483 | 843-873-9424 office | 843-873-9432 fax