Statistics Tell Story of Alarming Literacy Rates
Foundation’s Catalyst Fund Members Briefed by CCSU Educators
(September 25, 2008) More than four of every 10 adults in the state of Connecticut are functioning within the lowest two of five levels of literacy, meaning that they would have difficulty filling out a job application or even following instructions on an ATM screen, according 
to a pair of Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) educators who addressed a gathering this week of the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain’s Catalyst Fund membership at the Plainville Public Library.
Addressing the group were Dr. Jesse Turner, Director of CCSU’s Literacy Center, and Dr. Helen Abadiano, professor and chair of the Department of Reading and Language Arts, School of 
Education and Professional Studies at CCSU. Dr. Turner and Dr. Abadiano detailed the alarming state of literacy in Connecticut at all age levels, and the impact of this phenomenon not only on the individuals themselves, but on society as a whole.
“We don’t have the resources, we don’t have the time – but the need is everywhere,” said Dr. Turner.
The impact of illiteracy is interwoven throughout every aspect of today’s society and economy, said Dr. Turner. Employers need workers who can read, write, compute, solve problems and communicate well. Family stability, homeownership rates, flourishing businesses, growing tax bases - indeed, healthy communities – are all dependent on a literate population.
The Catalyst Fund, created in 2003 with the support of the Robert C. Vance Foundation, is a 
grass roots community service initiative that provides a means by which citizens from all walks of life can participate in philanthropy. For a modest annual investment of $250, Catalyst Fund members annually select a charitable focus, convene educational sessions to learn about their issue and, at the end of each year, choose a nonprofit recipient specializing in the issue of choice to receive a grant.
Earlier this year Catalyst Fund members chose literacy as their area of focus in 2008. The membership will use the insight gained during this week’s presentation to guide their consideration of applicants for a $10,000 grant award, which will take place at the final meeting in November.
To learn more about Catalyst Fund membership or the Foundation, please call (860) 229-6018 or visit www.cfgnb.org.
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