Marjorie Nelson, Literacy Committee
Toni Bolling Lutter
Gila Butte DAR sent Kyrene del Pueblo Middle School off to a good start on the new school year by providing more than 350 books for the school library and classrooms. The books were collected and delivered to the Chandler school by Gila Butte’s Literacy Promotion Committee under the leadership of Marjorie Nelson, Chair.
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) established the Literacy Promotion Committee in 1989 in response to a national increase in illiteracy levels. According to the most recent National Assessment of Adult Literacy conducted by the U. S. Department of Education, as many as one in seven adults in the United States cannot read at levels necessary to succeed in today’s society.
Across the country, Daughters are meeting the challenge and helping those with significant literacy needs to learn to read, to gain self-respect and confidence and to reach life goals that otherwise would not be obtainable. In addition to providing books, Gila Butte Daughters collect and donate other educational tools. They also tutor at-risk students and offer scholarships, both at chapter and state levels.
DAR is a national volunteer women’s service organization with chapters worldwide. Society goals are historic preservation, support for education and patriotic endeavor. Gila Butte Chapter meets in Sun Lakes and welcomes any woman over 18 who can prove bloodline lineage to a patriot of the American Revolution. Women who want to serve their community and their nation in DAR are urged to call 883-3003 for membership information or go to the website at gilabutte.arizonadar.org.