INDIANAPOLIS, December 3, 2024 – Indy Reads received a $100,000 grant from Glick Philanthropies to support their efforts to meet the rapidly growing demand for their personalized adult education classes, serving the most beginning level learner and beyond. Glick Philanthropies – a family of charitable initiatives dedicated to building community and creating opportunity that empowers every person to reach their full potential – recently announced more than $1.86 million in grants to 40 nonprofit organizations.
The $100,000 award will be used to support the expansion of Indy Reads’ adult education programming, which, despite having served 45% more adult learners last year, saw a 95% increase in inquiries. The organization’s core courses include English literacy, High School Equivalency, and workforce certifications – programming that advances equity by closing education achievement gaps and empowering adults and families to participate in and shape society.
“1 in 6 adults in our community are linguistically isolated and unable to read beyond a 5th-grade level,” Ruba Marshood, Indy Reads’ chief executive officer said. “As we celebrate our 40th anniversary year, we see exponential growth in inquiries for our classes, largely thanks to our learners referring us to their friends and families. We are honored by the trust our adult learners and Glick Philanthropies grant us and hold ourselves accountable to meet the needs. This award will have an immediate impact on our ability to fulfill the promise of our mission.”
Glick Philanthropies awards grants to tax-exempt organizations serving central Indiana and communities where Glick Company managed properties are located. Grants support efforts to:
Build Community
- Provide affordable housing
- Support a healthy democracy
- Strengthen Jewish cultural life
Create Opportunity
- Expand equitable opportunities in the arts
- Close education achievement gaps
- Improve access to basic needs
- Increase economic mobility
“Nonprofit organizations are uniquely positioned to understand community members’ needs, partner with them to provide support, and connect them to essential resources,” said Marianne Glick, chair of the Glick Family Foundation. “At Glick Philanthropies, our role is to walk alongside these nonprofit organizations to build community and create opportunity. We hope these grants empower our nonprofit partners to reach more people with thoughtful, innovative programs.”
For more information about Indy Reads’ work, please visit www.indyreads.org. For more information about Glick Philanthropies, visit glickphilanthropies.org.
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About Indy Reads
Indy Reads builds literacy, English language, and job readiness skills to empower adults and their families to reach their full potential. For 40 years, the nonprofit organization has worked toward a vision of 100% literacy for all. High literacy levels grant access to greater developmental, educational, civic, and career opportunities. Current statistics show that 1 in 6 adults in Indiana read at or below a fifth-grade level. Through its Community Classrooms and Programming, Indy Reads advances social equity through education, helping adult learners increase their English language and literacy proficiency, prepare for their High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma, build workforce skills to improve their employability and advancement potential, and engage more confidently in the community. Indy Reads is proudly one of few organizations that serves adults of all literacy skill levels, including the most beginning-level and beyond. To learn more about Indy Reads visit indyreads.org.
About Glick Philanthropies
Glick Philanthropies is an Indianapolis-based family of charitable initiatives dedicated to building community and creating opportunity that empowers every person to reach their full potential. Glick Philanthropies includes Glick Family Foundation, Glick Housing Foundation, the Glick Fund at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), and the Glick Fund at Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis (JFGI). Since 1982, we have awarded $320 million to charitable causes in Central Indiana and communities where the Glick Company operates.