Your Donations Help Change Lives
This December, Chatham Literacy kicked off the holidays in the best way possible—with community, generosity, and a shared belief in opportunity. On December 18, we hosted the 1st Annual Light Up for Literacy Benefit Telethon, and thanks to supporters like you, we raised $12,800 for adult learners across Chatham County.
Streaming live from 79 West in Pittsboro, the day was filled with warmth, connection, and joy. Friends joined us in person and online, donors called in throughout the day, and together we celebrated what the season of giving is all about. With the help of a $5,000 matching gift, donations made during the telethon stretched even further, helping adults build essential literacy and life skills.
As we move through this season of giving, there are many ways to keep the light shining. Your financial support helps sustain our programs, and our volunteer tutors bring encouragement, confidence, and possibility into learners’ lives every week. Whether you give, volunteer, or help spread the word, your involvement makes a lasting difference.
Looking for ways to get involved this season? Visit
chathamliteracy.org/give
2025 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
| 12:00 – Welcome & Overview | Guests: Josh Bisson Vicki Newell 79 West Daniel Wallace, Author |
| 1:00 – Bold Goal Initiative | Guests: Guadalupe Avellaneda, Program Coordinator Karen Howard, County Commissioner |
| 2:00 – Financial Literacy Services | Guests: Loyda Estrada, Program Coordinator First Horizon, community partner Yera Martinez, Chatham Literacy learner Kitshea Brooks, Chatham Literacy learner |
| 3:00 – ESOL | Guests: Oscar Manzanarez, Program Coordinator Brenda Clegg, Chatham County Marian Olson, Chatham Literacy tutor |
| 4:00 – Traditional Literacy | Guests: Leslie Ocampo, Program Coordinator Gill Keelan, Chatham Literacy tutor Carlos Lima, United Way Executive Director |
| 5:00 – Citizenship & Celebration | Guests: Leslie Ocampo, Program Coordinator Lily Brabble, Chatham Literacy tutor John Foley, Pittsboro Commissioner |
| 6:00 – Digital Literacy | Guests: Josh Bray, Program Coordinator Jesse Bradly, Digital Literacy Instructor Mayor Donald Matthews |
| 6:45 – Final Tally & Thanks | Guests: James O’Mara, Owner of O’Mara Landscaping & Lawn Care Enrique Huesca, O’Mara Landscaping & Lawn Care |
Chatham Literacy offers free tutoring services to adults who live or work in Chatham County. Your generous donations support programs that build foundational literacy skills that help adults achieve gainful employment, financial stability, improved access to health care, and better opportunities for their children – our next generation.