Fast Facts

Literacy Volunteers of Rochester, Inc. (LVR) is an organization of trained volunteers, dedicated to providing one-to-one or small group tutoring to functionally illiterate adults and to fostering literacy in the greater Rochester, New York area. We serve Monroe County, New York.

LVR is governed by a volunteer board, which meets bimonthly, and has six working committees.

Affiliations

Literacy Volunteers of Rochester, a 501-(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, is an affiliate of ProLiteracy America (formerly Literacy Volunteers of America and Laubach Literacy).

We're also affiliated with Literacy New York.

Staff and Volunteers

There are about 370 trained volunteers carrying out our programs and services with four full-time-equivalent supporting staff. Volunteer tutors receive 21 hours of training and commit to a minimum of two hours per week with their students for one year. Training sessions are held throughout the year.

Students

LVR students must be 18 years or older. The learners enrolled in our program are either no longer in high school and test at an eighth grade reading level or below, or non-English speaking adults who qualify. Services are free to all students. About 480 students received one or more of our services during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010.

Background and Location

LVR was founded in 1964, originally named "Each One Teach One." Our offices are located at 1600 South Avenue, Suite 100, a handicapped–accessible facility, which has free parking and is near two bus lines.

Financial Information

The annual budget is supported by a literacy grant from the Education Department of New York State; this grant constitutes approximately 43.5% of the budget. The balance is raised through contributions from foundations, corporations, and concerned individuals. An annual independent audit was conducted by Eldridge, Fox & Porretti, LLP. Our annual reports and IRS Form 990 are available here or from our office.

The Literacy Leadership Fund

A quasi-endowment fund named "The Literacy Leadership Fund" was established in 1997. A two-thirds majority of the Board is required to withdraw funds for emergency needs. Annual interest from this fund is part of the operating budget. Individuals who are concerned about the literacy needs of the future are encouraged to designate their gift to the Literacy Leadership Fund.