Indianapolis, Indiana – (October 3, 2017) – This week, Indy Reads was awarded a $50,000 grant by The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate. Crime Prevention Grants are awarded to Indianapolis nonprofits with programs focused on Community safety and prevention of crimes committed by youth and adults.

The grant financially assists our Community Classrooms program, which is designed to help adults with low literacy and English language skills transition to career classes and High School Equivalency programs. Low literacy significantly impacts quality of life, as these statistics show:

     -Low literacy costs the U.S. at least $225 billion each year in non-productivity in the workforce, crime, and loss of tax revenue due to unemployment.¹

     -Thirty percent of U.S. adults with household incomes at or below the federal poverty line do not have a high school credential.²

     -Seventy-five percent of those incarcerated across the nation did not complete high school.³

Educational attainment and well-paying employment opportunities prevent, reduce, and deter criminal activity. Research shows that offenders who are educated are 43 percent less likely to return to prison.

Students in our Community Classrooms program develop and improve the writing, speaking, and reading skills needed to advance in their lives—no matter their circumstance. Our instructors, tutors, and student navigators provide the support students need to overcome obstacles and reach their goals.

“We’re lucky to be able to help create better outcomes and prevent crime in high-risk areas through our support of students in Community Classrooms. This grant from The Indianapolis Foundation increases the amount of resources we can offer to address low literacy, an issue linked to higher crime and unemployment rates,” said Ryan King, Indy Reads CEO.

For more information about The Indianapolis Foundation and the causes they sponsor, please visit: www.cicf.org/funds-and-foundations/the-indianapolis-foundation/.

About Indy Reads:
For over 30 years, Indy Reads has promoted literacy to families and adults in Central Indiana. We believe that the foundation for success is literacy. High literacy levels give access to better educational, career, and developmental opportunities, but statistics show that 1 in 6 Hoosier adults currently read at or below a fifth-grade level. Through our interactive Community Classroom model, we offer programs for adult learners to increase literacy and English language proficiency. Experienced instructors, skilled student navigators, and trained classroom volunteers support students in their efforts to achieve. Our vision to Make Indianapolis 100% Literate will give everyone the necessary skills for a greater quality of life.

Sources:

1. National Council for Adult Learning (NCAL)
2. National Center for Education Statistics
3. U.S. Department of Justice, Rand Report: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Correctional Education