The UPS Foundation’s Global Focus on Literacy
Recent research indicates that nearly 50 percent of adult Americans function at a low or moderate literacy level and experience significant social, economic and personal challenges that compromise their abilities to support themselves, help their children in school and fully participate in society. Globally, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimates that as much as 20 percent of the world’s population is functionally illiterate.
The UPS Foundation has contributed more than $19.4 million since 1989 to support programs which provide education and employment skills to undereducated adults and their families to equip them with the tools to succeed in their communities, schools and workplaces. Through grants to nonprofits, UPS has supported the education and training of more than 42,000 adults and families, facilitating their successful entry into the workforce and pursuit of lifelong education. UPS support has also fostered the development of new models for family and workplace literacy, allowing these programs to reach more people and serve them more effectively.
The UPS Foundation grants have supported more than 400 local literacy programs in 120 communities across the United States. Some national U.S. organizations that have received UPS funding for their work in the literacy field include: National Center for Family Literacy in Louisville, Kentucky created the UPS Volunteer Family Literacy Academy and toolkit to train volunteers and increase the capacity of family literacy programs.
- Literacy USA in Houston, Texas expanded their national services and board development to local leaders.
- Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages in Alexandria, Virginia provided teachers and specialists training and resources to increase literacy among school-age limited English proficiency students.
- Student Coalition for Action in Literacy Education in Chapel Hill, North Carolina provided leadership training and development for volunteers.
- ProLiteracy Worldwide in Syracuse, New York is training volunteers to deliver more intensive instruction to improve literacy outcomes.
In the United Kingdom, UPS provided nearly half a million U.S. dollars in grants during 2004 to three organizations to help improve literacy. These organizations include:
- Volunteer Reading Help (VRH) recruited and trained volunteers to work with primary school children through one-on-one interaction.
- National Literacy Trust’s Reading is Fundamental (RIF) in Feltham provided free books and literacy materials to underserved school children.
- The Who Cares? Trust developed a new literacy and volunteering program throughout the North West.
In Germany, France, Italy and India, The UPS Foundation’s efforts also primarily focus on supporting literacy programs. Organizations that have received UPS funding include:
- “Germany Reads to Kids” in Germany
- Association of School Support Initiatives in Germany
In 2006, The UPS Foundation began the Community Literacy Initiative to build the organizational capacities of key national literacy organizations and expand their literacy services reaching under-served populations of all ages using volunteers.
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