The staff and supporters of the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County recently gathered at Quail Valley City Centre to celebrate the dedicated volunteers that give so much back to the community they serve. Since the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County was formed in 1987, over 25,000 students have been served and volunteers have donated over 525,000 hours of service time back to the community. An amount of time that equals approximately $17,000,000.00 returned to Fort Bend County. As a delicious brunch was served, guests were treated to musical performances from the Clements High School Quartet and the Dulles High School Choir. All of the volunteers were entered in a door prize drawing to win a hand painted rocking chair.

Elizabeth Pescke was this year’s winner of the Jan Schiff Memorial Scholarship for a GED student that is transitioning to college. She gave a moving speech in which she spoke of the trouble she experienced while preparing to take the test and the hard work of volunteer Laura Bush who helped her to earn her GED, so that she could go on to college to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice.

Guest Speaker, Katina Scott, Manager of Volunteer Services and Community Relations at St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital, spoke of the importance of volunteers and that every minute of every day they are truly changing lives. She expressed that without the dedicated volunteers that help our program; there would not be a Literacy Council of Fort Bend County. They are not only the backbone of the organization; they are its heart and soul.

Special honor goes to Luz Bobadilla, who has served as a wonderful tutor at the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County for 20 years. Special thanks go to The George Foundation, Fort Bend ISD Graphic Arts Department/Becky Walker, Les McDonald (decorations), Rosemary Jones and Patti Rankin (rocking chair artist) for their contributions towards this special appreciation event.