Literacy Group Reorganizes, Expands Board

Literacy advocates Wright to Read has separated from its parent foundation and plans to become a separate, independent nonprofit to improve its business structure.

Frank and Betty Wright started the Wright to Read program in 1979 as a part of their family foundation. Since that time, Wright to Read has provided tutoring and mentoring services generally for Alexandria City Public Schools elementary school children who fall behind in reading skills. Wright to Read trains the volunteers who then read with a child for at least one hour per week.

As part of the foundation, Wright to Read was administered from 1979 to 2010 by , a community nonprofit serving Alexandria children and families.

However, the program has grown, now serving about 140 students with the same number of volunteers. It moved out of the Campagna Center and into office space in Old Town on N. Washington Street in 2010.

"The new change will help us be eligible for more grants and to do more fundraising," said Wright to Read Executive Director Leigh Hoyer, explaining that as part of a private foundation, her group has not been eligible for many government and corporate grants.

Former state Sen. Patsy Ticer just joined the board along with nonprofit consultant Peggy Morrison-Curtis, who is also past president of The Giving Circle of Alexandria.