28 Jan CDC-Madison receives matching grants to support new outreach program
The Children’s Dyslexia Center-Madison (CDC-M) was recently awarded matching funds of $25,000 each from Madison Community Foundation and CUNA Mutual Group Foundation for a new outreach program in partnership with the Goodman Community Center. This program, entitled Literacy for Life, will take CDC-M’s successful one-on-one tutoring program to students in the Goodman Community Center area who struggle with reading. As part of the program, CDC-M will train several staff and volunteers in the Orton-Gillingham method, a method proven to be effective in teaching reading and writing to children with reading challenges.
Currently, CDC-M provides one-on-one tutoring to approximately 50 students ages 7-17 who have been diagnosed with dyslexia. Within two years, 95% of these children are reading and writing on grade level. Because CDC-M believes all children deserve the resources they need to succeed, regardless of family income, all services are provided free of charge. Literacy for Life will expand the number of children served as well as reach a new population by bringing the program into a neighborhood, removing transportation and other barriers for these families.
“There are so many reasons to be excited about the expansion of the Children’s Dyslexia Center’s transformative literacy program. A second location means more children will be able to read and write at grade level, reducing the academic achievement gap while strengthening Goodman Community Center’s ability to serve our area youth,” said Tom Linfield, Madison Community Foundation Vice President of Community Impact. “With some 17 percent of the population affected by dyslexia, it’s imperative that we reach children as early as possible to set them on a positive course for the future.”
“We are pleased to support the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Madison with this grant from the CUNA Mutual Group Foundation,” said Cedric Ellis, Foundation President and CUNA Mutual Group Executive Vice President of Enterprise Services. “Our Foundation believes that access to educational opportunities like the ones provided by the Children’s Dyslexia Center can help provide individuals with skills that aid in achieving financial security. This grant will help to expand their services into a new location at the Goodman Community Center – serving a greater number of children in our community.”
Tutor training will start this spring with the first students beginning tutoring in the fall. Each tutor will initially take on two students who will each receive two weekly one-on-one tutoring sessions. The Goodman Community Center will also integrate the new techniques into their classroom teaching. “We are excited to partner with the Goodman Community Center to reach kids we wouldn’t be able to reach otherwise,” said Kelly Kuenzie, Director of CDC-M. “The Goodman Community Center has a long history of making an impact in this neighborhood and we believe that together we can help even more kids be successful with reading.”
– Download the press release (PDF)