"They're doing the right work at the right time for the right people," remarked Jake Gorges, executive director of Wisconsin Literacy, as he joined roughly 900 people involved with the nonprofit coalition at the fourth annual Packers Give Back Game.
Each year, the Packers recognize a Wisconsin organization before and during a preseason game to highlight the nonprofit's work and amplify its message. Wisconsin Literacy was this year's honoree during last Saturday's preseason matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
When selecting a nonprofit to honor each year, the Packers aim to choose organizations with plenty of community involvement, meaningful overall impact and steady presence across the state. Without a doubt, Wisconsin Literacy meets these criteria, thanks to the people honored Saturday – and many more not in attendance – who dedicate their time to strengthening literacy.
"We're pleased to have Wisconsin Literacy join us for the Packers Give Back Game," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy when the nonprofit was announced as this year's honoree. "We are inspired by their commitment to ensuring all Wisconsinites have the literacy skills they need to pursue their goals and succeed. We are proud to amplify their mission and share their cause with our fans."
At its core, literacy can be defined as "the ability to read and write." Literacy proficiency is crucial to effective communication and the ability to make sense of the world. For the one in seven Wisconsin adults facing literacy challenges, it may be a struggle to understand short sentences and perform simple tasks, which can lead to difficulty finding and retaining employment, making medical decisions and educating their own children. Higher literacy rates empower people and expand their opportunities, which reduces poverty, increases employment possibilities and positively affects health and overall well-being.
For these reasons, in 1985, volunteers founded Wisconsin Literacy, which has grown into a nonprofit, statewide coalition of literacy agencies serving more than 11,000 adult learners and their families in 88% of Wisconsin's counties.
As executive director, Gorges works to provide all of Wisconsin's agencies with the support they need to change lives through strengthening literacy. "It's about getting these smaller organizations the resources and tools to assist more people and deliver quality services in their communities," he said. "They're doing great work in their local areas, which may be a certain block in Milwaukee or a 20-mile radius near Wausau."
Hoping to do meaningful work upon relocating to Wisconsin several years ago, Heidi Frankson discovered Wisconsin Literacy. "I was looking to support a mission that I could really get behind," she said. Frankson has been with the nonprofit for five years, now serving as its development director. "I love speaking with our board members and our donors, and really talking about our mission and the impact that they make with their support," she said.
This impact cannot be understated, and Andraea Lopez's journey in Literacy Green Bay's program exemplifies it. When Lopez and her tutor, Deidra Ruohomaki, began working together in the summer of 2021, Lopez could not speak or understand English. Three years later, Lopez is fluent in the language. "When we are in our tutor session, we practice reading, and she helps me to read words that I don't know," Lopez explained. "Or if I don't understand, she looks for a way to explain it to me instead of using translators."
Ruohomaki says she's enjoyed seeing Lopez grow and the expanded opportunities she now has. "She's become part of the community. She's not someone who stays in just her neighborhood – she's really involved now in the greater Green Bay community," said Ruohomaki. "When we first started working together, she was working at a meat packing facility where everyone spoke Spanish... she now works for the Green Bay Area Public School District, as well as Literacy Green Bay."
Lopez attended her first Packers game last Saturday. She and Ruohomaki both expressed how thrilled they were to experience the game together. "I am so happy and excited to be with my tutor and share this time," Lopez said.
As the nonprofit honoree for the game, Wisconsin Literacy guests from around the state were treated to a free bus ride to the stadium, food and beverage gift cards and tickets to a designated area in the south end zone to thank them for their work. Prior to kickoff, several Wisconsin Literacy members took the field to be recognized in front of over 72,000 attendees.
"We are so very, very grateful to have this opportunity and the platform," said Anna Krause, President of the Baraboo Literacy Council and member of Wisconsin Literacy's board of directors. "People might not necessarily think about literacy; this work is oftentimes quiet. So, to be on this type of a stage and be able to say, 'Hey, it's really important that people learn how to read' is fantastic."
To learn more or get involved with the organization, please visit wisconsinliteracy.org.
