The Literacy Council of Wake County will celebrate its 40th birthday this month. Since the Council began in 1970, nearly 2,500 Wake County residents have learned to read and improved their skills.

“We’ve still got lots more people to help,” Community Outreach Manager for the Council Nora Casper said.

With more than 100,000 illiterate adults in Wake County, according to the 1990 Census, Casper isn’t kidding.

Seventeen percent of the County’s adult residents read under an eighth grade reading level.

The seven staff members, four AmeriCorps workers and 150 to 200 volunteers help several families and individuals each year.

The Council started as a group of volunteers helping adults learn to read in Raleigh.

In the 1980s, the Council expanded to help all of Wake County. By 2005, family literacy classes began and courses specifically for juveniles started in 2009.

Each individual has a personal goal to work towards during one-on-one tutoring and group classes.

The juvenile tutoring is targeted on at-risk youth that the court system recommends. Usually, those students aren’t in school during the tutoring.

Casper said that the three hours per week of one-on-one time with volunteer tutors makes a big difference for the children.

“They tend to enjoy that,” she said.

Adults that take part in tutoring and group classes come from all backgrounds and age groups. While some who utilize the Council’s help are learning English as a second language, many are native English speakers. Some dropped out of school at a young age and desire to earn a degree while others just want to be able to read a book to their grandchildren.

“It’s more of a life skill that they want to take home,” Casper said. “You can see that they’re very proud of their accomplishment.”

The benefits aren’t just for students. Many volunteers tend to stay for several years because they enjoy the experience.

“Lots of people take for granted reading and writing skills,” she said.

On May 13, the Council will hold its sixth annual Black, White and Read Gala from 6 to 9 p.m. Along with speeches from Board members, students and tutors, there will be a silent auction and live jazz band.

The Council’s funding comes from grants and individual donations. For more information about the gala or to donate to the Council, visit www.wakeliteracy.org.