Milwaukee Achiever Literacy Services Honors Volunteers, Staff, and Supporters
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2009
MILWAUKEE . . . On May 5, 2009, Alverno College hosted the Twenty-Sixth Annual Appreciation Dinner honoring volunteers, staff, and supporters of Milwaukee Achiever Literacy Services. Approximately 200 guests were welcomed by Alverno president, Dr. Mary Meehan, followed by opening remarks from chair of the Board of Directors, Gary Dalton, who stated, “The staff members and volunteers you’ll hear about tonight are the heart and soul of the Milwaukee Achiever organization. They bring both passion and commitment to our mission to transform the lives of adult learners through education and training.”
Patricia Piazza, development coordinator, honored the memory of Sister Rosemary Welter, a volunteer tutor for 22 years, who passed away on April 5, 2009. She was also a part-time staff member, working as a computer lab assistant at Milwaukee Achiever’s Pierce and Silver Spring Centers. In Sister Rosemary’s honor, each of the computer labs will now display a plaque bearing the name, Welter Computer Lab.
Sister Rosemary was a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Chicago Region (now known as the West Midwest Region) for 68 years. The Sisters of Mercy were also honored for their dedicated support of Milwaukee Achiever, having awarded $235,000 in grant funding to Milwaukee Achiever over the past thirteen years. Five Sisters of Mercy from Milwaukee and Chicago were present, and Sister Mary Handseder spoke on behalf of the Sisters, acknowledging their connection with the mission and work of Milwaukee Achiever.
Chairman Dalton awarded Cargill the JobLink Workforce Partner-of-the-Year Award, stating, “In the world of business, it’s unusual to find a corporation that recognizes the critical need to improve the education and workplace skills of its employees.” Cargill and Milwaukee Achiever received Wisconsin Literacy’s Outstanding Achievement in a Workplace Literacy Program Award at Wisconsin Literacy’s Celebration of Literacy in Madison on May 7, 2009.
Awards were presented to staff and volunteer tutors, honoring them for their years of dedicated service to Milwaukee Achiever. Chairman Dalton and Peg Palmer, executive director, presented staff awards to Veronica De Cleene, SSND, (17 years), Sharon Stecker, SSND, (10 years) and Anita Zepeda (5 years).
Milwaukee Achiever center coordinators presented awards to their respective volunteer tutors. A 25 Year Award was presented to Betty Scharfenberger for her dedicated service as a volunteer tutor. Marie DeVillers received a 15 Year Award. Receiving 10 Year Awards were Virginia Forsaith, Mary Foskett, Gloria Van Raalte, and Jim Zinda. Volunteers who received 5 Year Awards were Anne Abler, SSSF; Judette Kolasny; Jane Stoltz; and Anne Marie Trautwein.
Milwaukee Achiever Literacy Services (www.milwaukeeachiever.org) offers one-on-one/small group tutoring in Adult Basic Education (ABE), GED/HSED preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL), citizenship and computer skills, and workforce development at two neighborhood learning centers located at 1512 West Pierce Street (414-643-0176, ext. 105) and 5566 North 69th Street (414-463-7389). Volunteer tutors are needed at each center. Interested persons should call for more information.
Milwaukee Achiever also provides the educational component of the MAXIMUS Welfare to Work (W2) program with learning labs located in the MAXIMUS centers at 6550 North 76th Street and 1304 South 70th Street. Additionally, Milwaukee Achiever has a learning lab at Cherry Court (1525 North 24th Street), a low-income housing community sponsored by the City of Milwaukee Housing Authority.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Patricia Piazza
Development/Communications Coordinator
Phone: 414-463-8821
Fax: 414-463-9484
email: ppiazza@milwaukeeachiever.org
