A bequest is a
gift that keeps on giving.

Our Story

Volusia Literacy Council is an independent, non-profit organization that provides free tutoring for adults in reading, writing and math. Governed by a volunteer board of directors, the Council’s mission is to affect community-wide changes by improving the basic literacy skills of adults and to increase literacy awareness.

With an enthusiastic volunteer network and contributions from supportive donors, we empower adults who want to improve the quality of their lives through free tutoring.

Different people have different needs. The Volusia Literacy Council offers adult students several options to meet their goals.

We offer tutoring for:

Our Influence

  • Students enrolled in our literacy program met one or more of their goals last year (i.e., obtaining a driver’s license, gaining employment, reading to their children, etc.).
  • VLC’s services are empowering. We teach adults the basic reading, math and workplace skills they needs to be self-sufficient members of our community.
  • For every dollar invested in literacy, approximately $33 is returned to the community in terms of increased productivity and reduced social and health care cost.
  • VLC depends largely on volunteer tutors. The conservative market value of their services for our most recent fiscal year was about $325,000

VLC must rely on private contributors in order to provide free services to students in need

HISTORY OF THE VOLUSIA LITERACY COUNCIL, INC.

40 YEARS AND COUNTING:  The Volusia Literacy Council history begins with understanding the value of partnerships.  It evolved from the West Volusia Literacy Council (formed in 1979 in DeLand) and the Greater Daytona Beach Literacy Council (formed in 1983).  In 1985, leaders of the two agencies discerned that they could function better as a unit, rather than competing for the same dollars and became a successful merger.

COLLEGIAL COLLABORATION:  The council has been cooperating with Daytona State College since the early 1980s, working with the Adult Basic Education Department.  DSC refers adults with low reading, language and math abilities to the Volusia Literacy Council for one-on-one tutoring when its students are unable to function in its remedial or GED courses. In turn, the council refers students with higher-level abilities who contact us to the college when they would benefit more from regular coursework.  DSC provides the Literacy Council with offices and equipment on the Daytona Beach and DeLand campuses.

WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY:  Over the last 40+years, the Council has worked to forge partnerships with other agencies in the community to provide on-site tutoring.  Several successful relationships include Reality House, where inmates during their last months of incarceration sign up to be students to work toward their GEDs and are tutored by in-house tutors as well as those from the outside; Project Warm and the House Next Door, where participants in the substance-abuse program are tutored on site; ALPI, where farm workers and others are tutored on site; and Faith at Work where low income students are able to receive free GED tutoring and financial provision to take the exam.

HISTORICAL INFLUENCE:  We have tutored over 20,000 students in the last 40 years, worked with over 5,000 volunteers and distributed over $4,000,000 worth of literacy materials.  Many of our students reported GED’s obtained, job placements, children influenced by their parents’ successes, and pursuit of higher education.

Our Mission

“To provide adults education tutoring services to individuals and families performing literacy skills below the ninth grade level in the areas of reading, writing, math, ESL [English as a Second Language] and workplace skills”.

We need your help

Please consider supporting the Volusia Literacy Council. Your Tax-deductible contribution is more than a gift- its is an investment in the lives of both people and our community.

Our Board of Directors

BOARD OFFICERS

Kristen Sternberg, President, Past President, News Journal – Retired 

Kevin Vagovic, Esq. Past President

Bob Davis, Vice President Hotel and Lodging Assn., Volusia

Dr. Tasha Lucas-Youmans, Treasurer Bethune-Cookman

Meaghan Marquart, Secretary Wells Fargo

BOARD MEMBERS

Brett Handshoe, Wells Fargo

Meryl Hether, The City of Daytona Beach

Kelvin G. Mayner, Allstate Insurance

William Rosas, Retired, State of Florida

ADVISORY BOARD

John Ferguson, Cobb & Cole

Julie Reames, Reames Employee Benefits Solutions, Inc

Susan Schandel, NASCAR, Inc.

Paul Skinner, Daytona Beach

Gregory Snell, Snell Legal

Glenn Yarbrough, Merrill Lynch Wealth Mgmt.

James Jiloty, Past President

Russel Holloway, Port Orange Counseling Center

Ceteria Golden-Sessoms, SunTrust Bank

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

William Hinebaugh

[email protected]

EDUCATION/PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Nancy LaCrosse

[email protected]

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & EVENTS

Barbara Hinebaugh

[email protected].org

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My Bestselling Study Guides

Adults with low-level literacy skills face many challenges each day. Simple tasks such as paying bills, applying for employment, or helping their children with their homework can be frightening. Often feeling ashamed and alone, the adults typically try to hide their lack of skills even from close friends and family.

By helping these adults improve their literacy skills, the Volusia Literacy Council can bring about amazing changes in their quality of life. New opportunities open up for them as parents, employees, and members of their communities.

Something Inspiring
Learn More about Our Programs

Events

We tutor adults in our community and ensure they remain proficient in their core subjects, and enjoy learning along the way. Here are some of our upcoming events.

Our annual Spelling Bee will return in May, 2024.

Contact our office for information.

Click below to see the 2023 Spelling Bee Highlights.

Click below to see the 2023 Spelling Bee Video 

The Council’s annual Golf Tournament will be held this coming August.

Contact the office for further information.

November 30, 2023

Contact the office for further information and tickets.

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Tutoring Articles & Musings

I can tutor your child and ensure they remain proficient in their core subjects, and enjoy learning along the way. I am a time served and qualified teaching professional, and I‘m ready now to help.

Resources

Tutoring Articles & Resources

Here you will find some helpful
information and resources

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