This is a mission-driven merger. We envision a community where every child graduates from high school, the crime and poverty rates are the lowest in the nation, a skilled workforce fosters a thriving economy, and the lively arts and culture environment is second to none. We know this possible only when our entire community supports literacy from birth through adulthood. By coming together, we are creating one powerful organization that is building a movement that will touch every person, family, business and corner of our community.

Literacy Volunteers of Tucson, Reading Seed, Reach Out and Read Southern Arizona, Stories that Soar! and the Literacy for Life Coalition voted to merge and create one powerful organization to lead our literacy movement.

This was an important decision, and one that we didn’t take lightly. Over the summer, we invited input and feedback during the naming process through focus groups, individual interviews and a community-wide survey.

The leadership is represented by a community board, which includes two board members from each of the five organizations.

Betty Stauffer, the current executive director of Literacy Volunteers of Tucson, will be the executive director of the new organization. The executive directors of Reading Seed, Reach Out and Read Southern Arizona, Stories that Soar! and the Literacy for Life Coalition will remain as program directors. The staff and directors that you have grown to know and work with will continue their mission-driven work to advance literacy.

All of the programs have been maintained. Over time and through a planning process, our services will integrate and expand. The work that is being done will continue. Our new organization is designed to honor, respect and preserve the successful programs currently being offered by Literacy Volunteers of Tucson, Reading Seed, Reach Out and Read Southern Arizona, Stories that Soar! and the Literacy for Life Coalition. The mission, logo and name for each program will remain the same, and the staff for each program will continue to address their mission by providing specialized services. The new organization is an umbrella for the existing programs of all five organizations.

We are building on the momentum and strengths created by five visionary organizations. As one organization, we are able to serve more people throughout our community no matter where or when they enter our continuum of services. Each program is a vital part of the whole just as it is. We want to expand each program and create ways to increase our impact.

The core of each program will remain the same. Our goal is to increase the impact our programs have on the individuals we serve as we find new ways to work together and blend aspects of our respective programs.

Our volunteers are very important to us. We are building on the success that has only been possible through your support and dedication. If you are currently a volunteer, please continue to support your program. This new effort will provide additional opportunities for the community to be involved. By becoming one organization, the process to volunteer with any of the programs will become more streamlined and even more opportunities will be available.

We are already building excitement as we have received a $50,000 challenge grant from the Thomas R. Brown Family Foundation! Your donation today will be matched dollar for dollar and help us launch our new organization on solid financial ground. Make sure we have your email address, and stay tuned for updates and exciting announcements as we move forward. Join the literacy movement today!

You can (and should!) continue to give to the program(s) that you currently support. We invite you to increase your current level of support so we can have a greater impact more quickly. We also encourage you to give to our new organization as we work together to create a culture of literacy throughout Southern Arizona. Donate today, and be a part of our literacy movement!

For general inquiries and feedback, click here. If you would like to contact any of the integrating organizations, their information is below:Bruce Anderson, Operations Director, Literacy for Life Coalition, 520.770.0800, ext. 116
Betty Stauffer, Executive Director, Literacy Volunteers of Tucson, 520.882.8006
Will Creamer, Director, Reach Out and Read Southern Arizona, 520.256.6100
Elizabeth Campbell, Executive Director, Reading Seed, 520.798.0700
Sharon O’Brien, Managing Artistic Director, Stories That Soar!, 520.975.9970

Once the work of fully integrating all five programs is completed, we will explore a new location. Be sure to give us your contact information so that we can keep you updated regarding news and exciting announcements as we move forward.