Read Across America Awarded

The Urbana Arts & Culture Program is proud to announce that Altrusa International of Champaign Urbana, IL, Inc. was awarded the Letha H Brown Award for the best literacy project for Read Across America at the Altrusa International Convention which was held in Reno, July 17-20.

The Letha H. Brown Literacy Award was established by the International Board of Directors in July 1993, to honor Past International President Letha H. Brown, who, in 1977, introduced literacy as a major emphasis of the organization.

Altrusa is the world’s oldest service club for women and was founded in 1917. It represents over 300 International Service Clubs. The objectives of the award are to stimulate interest in developing active literacy projects, to encourage projects designed to meet specific community needs, and to recognize outstanding club achievement in service to community.

The Urbana Arts & Culture Program has supported Read Across America for many years. Altrusa International of Champaign-Urbana has formed partnerships with community agencies, organizations and schools to coordinate the annual Read Across America Community Celebration and to provide literacy-based activities for young children. For the past 19 years, more than 1000 children and their families have attended this event each year. With the support of many community sponsors, each child received a new book and a book bag to take home. The 20th Annual Read Across America Community Celebration will take place on February 29, 2020 at Lincoln Square, Urbana. Altrusa C-U, which will be celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, provides volunteers and resources for many of our community programs which emphasize literacy development, food security, and support for women and children.