Thank you to all our volunteers!

Well, we've been a little remiss in posting to the blog recently. So to catch you up, we just celebrated all of our volunteers and students in the Volunteer and Student Recognition Dinner this past Wednesday, May 30. It was a fabulous evening and I think that everyone had a wonderful time. We started the evening with a delicious dinner from Central BBQ (home of the best barbeque in town), served family style. It was such an amazing site to see old and new friends sitting around the table, passing food as staff and board members brought around the iced tea. It just goes to show that even though we come to the table with different backgrounds and histories, this is truly an organization that is a family.

Before I get too mushy, I do want to recognize our outstanding tutors who received awards:

Volunteers of the Year: Robert Raiteri and Lynn Franklin

MVPs:
Heidi Bissell
Betsy Carnesale
Thomas Motley
Greg Weidenhoffer
Melvin Jackson
Curt Mayhew
Marvin Sanford
Joe Schingle
Linda Richmond
Anne Mary Gilbert
Gladys Lowe
Jennifer Nolte

Rookies of the Year:
Kathryn Pritchard
Christina Foster
Shelby Hartman
Simone Thomas
Pat Ford
Kathy Green
Terry Mayberry
Larry Krebs
Hilda Cabrera
Shirley Albert
Cherisa Tisdale-Lewis
Amanda Clarkson

Read for Life: Alice Broderick

Spirit of Giving: Sylvia Gayden, Michael Peeler

Jefferson Award: Laura Greinke

As a wonderful topper to the evening, Memphis Literacy Council received the annual Award for Excellence in Adult Literacy Service by the Tennessee Literacy Coalition. The award is based on the success of the implementation of a new transitional program for their ESL (English as a Second Language) students.

Everyone had a great time and we can't wait for next year's dinner. Thanks to all the staff, board members and volunteers who worked to pull this event together and a very special thank you to Central BBQ for some delicious food! Most especially, thank you to all our volunteers who give so much of themselves to help others learn to read and speak English. You are the lifeblood of this organization and we could not have helped the thousands of people we have without you!

~Debra