Reading, You're Lucky If You Can.

Literacy to Illiteracy

Percentages drastically changing for the worst

Fort Collins, CO -- “Pi Burger Fry is hands down my favorite philanthropy of the year. I love burgers, I love fries and I of course love Pi Beta Phi,” Announced Charlie Fredrick at this year’s end of Pi Beta Phi’s philanthropy event on Wednesday, September 29th. Every year Pi Beta Phi sorority puts on their philanthropy event called Pi Burger Fry, which helps to raise money for their national philanthropy, First Book.

So, Tell me, What Is First Book?
Everyone in the community is invited to this event and admission to all the burgers, flies, soda and fun is only $5.00. In order to attend Pi Burger Fry attendees must make a small donation of $5.00. Pi Beta Phi’s Vice President of Philanthropy, Erin Eastburn, explains, “All the money that Pi Beta Phi raises goes directly to First Book. First Book helps support school and children that need help with their reading and literacy programs. The money also helps First Book sponsor book drives and other philanthropic events to raise awareness of the unseen problem of illiteracy.”Although, First Book is Pi Beta Phi’s national philanthropy anyone can donate to the cause. Donations can be made in the form of books or monetary. Every $2.00 donated provides one new book for a child in need and so far First Book has provided more than 70 million brand new books to children in need. This year, Pi Beta Phi raised $2,085.00 which means about 1,042 books will be donated to children around the nation.

Is It Really That Bad?
Pi Beta Phi member Lili Beck stated, “Compared to other sorority philanthropies First Book may not seem like such a big deal, but illiteracy is a drastically increasing problem in the United States.” Currently, two million adults are functionally illiterate and it is estimated that 42 million American adults are not able to read or write in any way. By not stopping the illiteracy issue it is estimated that illiteracy will grow by about two million each year. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it is estimated that more than $2 billion is spent each year on students who repeat a grade because they have reading problems, and approximately 50 percent of the nation's unemployed youth age 16-21 are functional illiterate, with virtually no prospects of obtaining good jobs.

Illiteracy, More Than Just Not Being Able To Read

The reason First Book is so focused on children is because two-thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of the 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare. Furthermore, over 70 percent of inmates in America’s prisons cannot read above a 4th grade level. On greater scale, illiteracy statistics show that as illiteracy increases so do crime rates. For example, according to the U.S. Department of Education, 60 percent of America's prison inmates are illiterate and 85 percent of all juvenile offenders have reading problems.

Not only is Pi Beta Phi helping to change illiteracy rates, locally in Weld County a nonprofit organization started in 1976 called Right to Read. Right to Read is an adult education center whose motto is, “Literacy Opens Worlds.” This organization is a classroom set up that teaches over 250 adults and families each year how to read at a proficient level. There are an estimated 30,000 adults in Weld County who are not native English speakers. These are hard-working individuals who have few resources to acquire English skills, skills that are essential to economic and social success. In Weld County roughly 10.3% of the population lives in poverty. The cycle of opportunity is closed to most of these individuals who often lack the skills to improve their economic lives (right to read).

Pi Beta Phi, First Book, Right to Read any many other organizations are doing a small part in helping cure the illiteracy problem, but if we all take time to donate books we can significantly help to decrease this issue as well. Attending philanthropy events, such as Pi Burger Fry is the most fun way to make a difference. Gamma Phi Beta member, Shannon Good said, “I love attending sorority and fraternity philanthropy events because not only do I get to hang out with all my friends but I am doing my part to make a difference and help a specific cause.”