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Winner of the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund - September 4, 2007
Nancy Sonntag Honored with $5,000 Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund Award
September 4, 2007

Jacksonville, Texas Resident Wins Cash Award To Fund Program Dedicated To Improving Adult Women’s Literacy


(New York, NY, September 4, 2007) Nancy Sonntag, 62, has been selected to win the weekly $5,000 Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund award for September 4, 2007. Nancy will use her winnings to support programs dedicated to improving adult women's literacy in her community, which is located in primarily rural Cherokee County, Texas and is afflicted with an illiteracy rate of nearly 40% – one of the nation’s highest. Through the Literacy Council, Nancy offers programs that help women, who are mainly in their 20s through 60s, overcome the obstacle of illiteracy and achieve wider educational and employment opportunities along with self-confidence to become empowered members of society.

Illiteracy is a major obstacle to financial success, and as such is a primary contributing factor to the vicious cycle of poverty. Many of the women in Nancy’s community lack the literacy levels to graduate from high school and their employment opportunities are limited. Understanding these factors has made improving literacy of utmost importance to Nancy, and to support this personal mission she serves as Program Director of the Literacy Council. The Council was established over three years ago with support of the local public library and Chamber of Commerce, and in order to manage program costs, all literacy classes are taught by volunteers in rented space in a local office building.

Many of the women who seek the Council’s services come from low-income or immigrant backgrounds, and are often the family breadwinners, yet they are without the literacy skills to secure better-paying jobs. They also almost always lack skills to manage their finances. To address these needs, the Council has created programming designed to teach basic literacy as well as financial literacy and budgeting, which allows these women to pursue education and employment, and also to manage their finances and better support their families. For the immigrant women, English as a Second language (ESL) is another focal point of the program.

It is Nancy’s goal not only to reverse the illiteracy rate in her community, but also to equip each woman who comes to the Council with the life skills to rise above her circumstances and help her family. During her tenure with the program, Nancy has seen firsthand that the program is having a remarkable impact, and she has witnessed the blossoming of self-confidence based upon personal accomplishment. Achievements of clients have included acquiring a GED and attending college-level classes, receiving a first driver’s license, participating in parent-teacher conferences for the first time, and earning job promotions. Nancy estimates that virtually all of the clients who were employed before they started the program have advanced in their jobs due to new skills. By empowering the women through literacy, it is clear that there will be brighter futures for the next generation as well.

With her Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund award, Nancy will help finance the continuation of her successful program. The money will be allocated for crucial expenses such as rent, classroom supplies, telephone and internet services and basic upkeep costs. Congratulations, Nancy!

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