Indianapolis, IN — (March 23, 2022) The Nora Roberts Foundation, created in 2001 by Nora Roberts as an avenue of support for organizations promoting and encouraging literacy, children, the arts, and humanitarian efforts, has awarded Indy Reads a $4,000 grant. The grant supports Indy Read’s High School Equivalency curriculum transition from the TASC certification exam to the HiSET certification exam.

“We are so grateful to the Nora Roberts Foundation for their support as we continue to build out new lesson plans, practice tests, and training materials to prepare our students for skill mastery on a new High School Diploma certification exam that has been implemented statewide,” said Ruba Marshood, Indy Reads’ CEO.

Indy Reads serves adult learners through free literacy, ELL, job readiness, and credential-earning certification courses. The High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma program, launched in 2020, has bloomed over the last two years and this funding will support the development of instructional materials tailored to our students’ growing needs.

“HSE diplomas open doors to employment, further education, and workforce training programs that are unavailable to individuals without a diploma,” Marshood said. “In Marion County, 14% of our neighbors over 25 years old do not have a high school diploma or equivalency. At Indy Reads, our core value of student-centeredness ensures that whatever the literacy level of students entering our program, we will work with them from pre-HSE to taking their High School Equivalency exam and beyond. Nora Roberts Foundation funding allows us to help adults at all levels of literacy prepare to meet – and exceed – their goals.”

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About Indy Reads

Indy Reads builds literacy, English language, and job readiness skills to empower adults and families to reach their full potential. For over 30 years, we’ve worked toward a vision of 100% literacy for all. High literacy levels give access to greater developmental, educational, 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 workforce development programs, Indy Reads helps adult learners increase their literacy and English language proficiency, prepare for their High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma and improve employment opportunities.

To learn more about Indy Reads, visit indyreads.org. 

About the Nora Roberts Foundation

In 2001, Nora Roberts created the Nora Roberts Foundation. A successful business woman as well as a best-selling author, Ms. Roberts envisioned the foundation as an avenue of support for organizations promoting and encouraging literacy, children, the arts, and humanitarian efforts. These areas, particularly important to her and her family, serve as the focus of the foundation.

To learn more about the Nora Roberts Foundation, visit norarobertsfoundation.org. 

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