CHICAGO — The HANA Center has been awarded a $66,000 grant to enhance their adult volunteer literacy program thanks to support from State Senator Natalie Toro.  

“As a former kindergarten teacher who taught basic reading comprehension, I know firsthand how important this skill is for lifelong success, and how difficult it can be to learn, especially as we get older,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “Organizations like the HANA Center who provide literacy courses are helping empower people to learn more at any age and will utilize this grant funding to continue to support people in our community on their journey of personal development.”

The grants were awarded by Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias, who has provided nearly $22 million for library services and $6 million for literacy programs throughout the state.

The goal of these grants is to enhance online catalogs, support day-to-day operations, expand interlibrary loan programs and equip vision-impaired individuals with narrations of newspaper content. The literacy grants are designed to promote basic reading, math, writing and English language skills.

“Equipping our libraries with the resources they need to increase services and expand offerings is essential to enhancing the accessibility of learning materials for all Illinois residents regardless of their geographic location, accessibility needs, income status or educational level,” Giannoulias said. “Meanwhile, increasing the state’s literacy level results in opportunities for individual success and makes communities stronger.”

To learn more about the HANA Center’s Adult Volunteer Literacy Program, visit their website here. For a complete list of grant recipients, click here.