S H A R E T H E P O W E R O F L E A R N I N G

2 0 0 7 – 2 0 0 8 A N N U A L R E P O RT

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To share the power of learningthrough education, community building and advocacy.

O U R M I S S I O N :

Dear Friends of Literacy,

This year has been an exciting one for the Minnesota Literacy Council (MLC).Our 2007-2008 Annual Report illustrates how volunteers, teachers, learners,parents and children are connecting every day to improve our community.

Our work to share the power of learning has never been stronger. Overthe year:

• Our Minnesota Reading Corps grew dramatically, nearly doubling in size.We recruited 235 AmeriCorps members to assist 6,000 children at learningsites throughout the state. We are on track to achieve our two-year goal ofserving the 15,000 Minnesota children needing help to read at grade levelby third grade.

• We initiated a family literacy project called the Children’s English School.Adults attending English classes bring their young children to an on-sitepreschool for literacy-rich activities. Parents also receive training on how tohelp their child build skills at home, since we know parent involvement isessential to a child’s early learning.

• Our staff found new ways to overcome geographic and scheduling barriers forteachers and tutors by producing online training courses. We are alsoworking with local and national partners to launch Learner Web, a dynamicweb-based learning tool for adults to access high quality education remotely.

Thanks to your support, we expanded successful programs and tested newstrategies. As a result, our learners gained skills and confidence to achievebrighter futures. In the following pages, we invite you into our classrooms toexperience the uplifting stories of Ambika and Linda, Adhel and her children,and Judy and Ben.

We look forward to another year of working alongside you to nurture, teach,empower and learn. And if you are not already involved as a volunteer ordonor – join us. Amazing things happen!

Eric Nesheim Robert J. CockerExecutive Director Board President

Graphic design by George Peters Design gpetersdesign@comcast.net

AmeriCorps*VISTA member Emily Nguyen with Summer Reads Program participants.

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Literacy deeply affects our quality of life. Imagine the challenge ofhelping your children with their homework, reading a prescriptionbottle or responding to a job application without being able to reador write well yourself. This year, 75,000 Minnesotans facingdifficulties like these enrolled in literacy classes.

In MLC adult programs:

• English as a Second Language (ESL) learners and life-longEnglish speakers took steps in GED classes toward their goal ofattending college.

• Adults practiced employment-related English skills and exploredbasic computer use to develop marketable skills for the workplaceand to find better jobs.

LITERACY OPENS DOORS

• Parents built their confidence to make school, health andeconomic choices that are in the best interest of their families.

The Minnesota Literacy Council also provides volunteermanagement, tutor training and technology support to 400 literacyprograms across the state in order to maintain high quality,accessible programs for all adults who need them.

Doors open as a result of acquiring stronger English skills. By sharingthe power of learning, we are building a strong civic, economic andcommunity life for us all.

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Adult learners Daniel Segarra and Rosa Calles practice pronunciation with MLC coordinator Jessica Grace Jones.

AN EXTENDED FAMILY

Ambika Adhikari uses the Nepali word didi (bigsister) to refer to Linda O’Malley. Linda is avolunteer teacher at the MLC Learning Center-Lake Street. Earlier this year, she worked withher congregation to sponsor Ambika and herfamily to come to the United States from aNepalese refugee camp.

Ambika spent 17 years in refugee camps afterfleeing from her native country of Bhutan due togovernment persecution. When she arrived inMinnesota, she didn’t speak a word of English.

Linda connected Ambika to MLC’s Englishclasses and helped familiarize her with the TwinCities. She also visits Ambika at home to helpher read mail and pay bills. Now, according toLinda, “Ambika’s English is amazing. She cannavigate the bus system on her own, hasenrolled her children in school, and hopes to geta job as a nurse’s assistant.”

Linda, who is changing careers and studying toget her teaching degree, is visibly proud ofAmbika. She says she tries to get to know all ofher students. “I learn so much from them. It’swhat keeps bringing me back.”

Ambika truly thinks of Linda as family. After arecent family celebration Linda was unable toattend, Ambika warmly told her she was missedand that the family was not complete withouther there.

ADULT PROGRAMS AND SERVICESAdult Basic Education InstructionAdult Literacy HotlineAdult Literacy Program SupportEducational Technology ServicesTeacher TrainingVolunteer Tutor RecruitmentVolunteer Tutor Training

5Ambika and Linda sort through mail and other paperwork together.

Here in Minnesota, one in five third-graders does not read at gradelevel. Research shows that children not reading at grade level by thirdgrade struggle to catch up with their peers. Furthermore, as thesechildren enter high school they become disillusioned, frustrated andmore likely to drop-out.

The Minnesota Literacy Council has increased our investment inchildren’s literacy to meet this need. In our children’s programs:

• Preschool-aged children expanded their vocabularies by talking,reading and writing with trained tutors.

NURTURING LITERACY

• Elementary school children became more fluent readers, a criticalfactor for reading comprehension.

• Parents increased the amount of time they spent reading to theirchildren as a result of home literacy coaching.

The Minnesota Literacy Council is nurturing young readers so allMinnesota children grow into successful students. This investmentwill pay off in higher graduation rates and a better-educated workforce for the future.

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Beatriz Arias is an eager learner at MLC’s new Children’s English School.

CULTIVATING A LOVE OF READING

Adhel Dau is from Sudan. She started Englishclasses at the MLC Learning Center-Northeast inthe summer of 2006. Since then, she hasadvanced to the high intermediate level and it ispaying off at work. “What I’m learning in classhelps me with the reports I write for my job.”

Her youngest children, three-year-old twinsPatence and Emanuael, started coming to thelearning center with her shortly after theChildren’s English School opened in 2007. WhileAdhel is in English classes, her childrenparticipate in their own literacy-buildingactivities at the preschool.

Adhel also receives parent mentoring and freechildren’s books from MLC home literacycoaches. She now spends time reading togetherwith the twins. “They like reading and like booksmore. Before, they had no idea about books.”

Adhel beamed as she shared a story about arecent family reunion. “The twins were talkingand showing off their knowledge of letters andnumbers. I can tell that they are more preparedfor kindergarten than my other kids were.”

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

AmeriCorps*VISTAChildren’s English SchoolChildren’s Tutor TrainingEarly Literacy and Families ProgramMinnesota Reading CorpsSummer Reads VISTA

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Twins Emanuael and Patence listen attentively as their mother Adhel reads.

People-to-people connections are the heart of every literacyprogram. To foster these connections, MLC recruits, trains andplaces volunteers and national service members to serve at learningsites across the state.

Volunteers Judy Walker and her son Ben Goetzke turned to MLCfor training and a place to team teach. They now lead a BeginningESL class at the MLC Learning Center-Rondo Library. They areinspired by their students’ goals, which range from finding a job,helping their children in school or just communicating better withco-workers and neighbors.

For Ben, it’s about meeting an important need in the community.“You get this heightened sense that you’re actually hands on helpingsomeone who really needs you.” Judy enjoys being able to spendtime with her son and seeing how their different styles increasestudent learning. “This is really the highlight of my week,” she says.

FOSTERING CONNECTIONS

MINNESOTA LITERACY COUNCIL FACTS AT A GLANCENumber of MLC employees:1 44Number of national service members:2 342Organizations supported: 692Literacy volunteers trained: 2,500Children served: 35,000Adults served: 75,000

For more information or to get involved, please contact theMinnesota Literacy Council at (651) 645-2277 or www.theMLC.org.To refer someone for English or GED services, call our Adult LiteracyHotline 1-800-222-1990 or visit www.theMLC.org/hotline.1 The average number of full-time equivalent employees2 AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps*VISTA members devote a year of their lives to voluntary service; Summer ReadsVISTAs participate for eight weeks in the summer

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Volunteer teachers Judy and son Ben help Fadumo Issak and Shafi Behi learn job application-related vocabulary.

Complete copies of MLC financial statements are available upon request.

FFIINNAANNCCIIAALL RREEPPOORRTT

Financial SummaryYear Ended June 30, 2008Dollars in Thousands

SSuuppppoorrtt aanndd RReevveennuuee

Government Grants $ 5,394 78%Corporate and Foundation Grants 357 5%Contributions/Special Events 124 2%Program Service Fees, Book Sales, Other 140 2%Pass-Through and In-Kind Contributions 882 13%Total Support and Revenue $ 6,897 100%

EExxppeennddiittuurreess

Children and Family Literacy Programs $ 3,802 58%Adult Literacy Programs 1,047 16%Volunteer Training, Technology, Support Services 1,102 17%Administration 367 6%Fundraising 199 3%Total Expenses $ 6,516 100%

Consolidated Statement of Financial PositionYear Ended June 30, 2008Dollars in Thousands

AAsssseettssCash and Cash Equivalents $ 344Grants Receivable 1,855Other Current Assets 31Fixed Assets at Cost 73Endowment 139Total Assets $ 2,442

LLiiaabbiilliittiieess aanndd NNeett AAsssseettssAccounts Payable $ 194Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities 162Unrestricted Net Assets 838Temporarily Restricted Net Assets 1,109Permanently Restricted Net Assets 139Total Liabilities and Net Assets $ 2,442

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2007 – 2008BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bob Cocker, President, GrandItasca Clinic and Hospital

Susan Spray, Management Chair,University of St. Thomas

Rick Greene, Treasurer, DeluxeCorporation

Edna Comedy, University of St.Thomas

Eunice Coté, CommunityRepresentative

Susan Cowsert, Edina Realty

Margo Fjelstad, ThriventFinancial for Lutherans

Marcia Garton, InternationalInstitute of Minnesota

Robert Hanvik, Fleishman Hillard

Jeanne Jacobson, College of St. Catherine

Mitch Larson, Grant Thornton LLP

Ginny Latocki, Western NationalInsurance Group

Preeti Mathur, CommunityRepresentative

Marsha Milgrom, Dakota County

Judith Walker, Blue Cross andBlue Shield of Minnesota

Jane Wardell, CPS Systems, Inc.

Beth Grover Wiederholt,Securian Financial Group

Nancy Yang, St. Paul PioneerPress

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July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008THANK YOU, DONORS!

$50,000 or moreThe McKnight Foundation

$25,000-$49,999Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

$10,000-$24,999Hugh J. Andersen FoundationFrey FoundationH.B. Fuller Company FoundationGeneral Mills Community ActionThe Pentair Foundation

$5,000-$9,999Allianz Life Insurance CompanyFred C. & Katherine B. Andersen

FoundationCedar Creek Oil & Gas CompanyDeluxe Corporation FoundationEunice L. Dwan TrustImationHarry L. & Janet M. Kitselman

Foundation

$1,000-$4,999Burke Family Fund of the Minnesota

Community FoundationDolores CostelloFredrikson & Byron FoundationThe Gallup OrganizationGranite FoundationRichard GreeneMary Livingston Griggs & Mary

Griggs Burke FoundationHalf Price BooksAmy Hansen & Walter SchmidtHardenbergh FoundationRuth HarpoleHypro Pentair WaterDeborah Johnson**McVay FoundationMead Witter Foundation, Inc.

Matching Gifts ProgramMedtronic FoundationMoneyGram InternationalNelson, Tietz & Hoye, Inc.The Casey Albert T. O’Neil

FoundationJohn & Lois RogersMendon F. Schutt Family Fund of The

Minneapolis FoundationSecurian FoundationWendy & Colin Smith Family Fund of

the Jewish Community FoundationStewart StoneJennifer TurrentineU.S. Bancorp FoundationWal-Mart Store #1864The H.E. & Helen R. Warren

Foundation

$500-$999Blue Cross & Blue Shield of

MinnesotaRobert & Michelle CockerDenny Fund of The Minneapolis

FoundationPaul Dorn**Marcia GartonSusan Godon*Honeywell Hometown SolutionsThe Hubbard Broadcasting

FoundationBrian & Martha LeonardMelinda Look & David AlgeyerBob & Mardie MarshallMarsha MilgromCarole & Joseph Nesheim

Rasmussen CollegeTen Thousand VillagesThomson WestTravelers FoundationRob Voith**Judith W. Walker**Wal-Mart Store #1562David & Mary Ann Barrows WarkJohn G. & Lois Schrantz Welshons

Fund of The Saint Paul FoundationDaniel & Carol WolfeWomen Who Book

$250-$499Anonymous DonorPaul BullingPhebe ConnollyBarbara Romer Cook & Robert CookLydia Crawford*Leroy & Ruth FingersonDonald HarperJean E. & B.C. Hart Donor Advised

Fund of The Saint Paul FoundationAlfred HauwillerKevin & Mara HoppsJeanne JacobsonJob’s Daughters InternationalMary & Chuck JungmannPreeti & Anoop Mathur*Eric & Mirtha Nesheim*Linda Odegard & Harlan CavertSheila Piippo*John & Linda SatoriusDavid SchumacherStriker & Tetta Family Fund of The

Minneapolis FoundationKirk & Laurie VelettWendy Wehr*Western National Insurance GroupMargaret Wirth-Johnson & Jim

Johnson

$100-$249Anonymous DonorsHelen S. AckermanKaren AlsopAmeriprise Financial Gift Matching

ProgramWendy AmundsonGreg Babler & Martha Van RoekelBarnes & Noble BooksellersNancy & Ragnar BjornsonMatthew & Laura BredesenAlfred & Nancy BunnettNancy & Jim BurkeMary Cajacob & Peter EisenbergMarcia CheneyEdna ComedyBeth & Jim ConwayDebbie Cushman*Eleanor DalyBrian DoylePhil & Julie EckmanBarbara & Arthur FelkerBarbara FleigAnn Rukavina FlemingJack & Maralyn FlinnerFMC TechnologiesGeorge Peters Design & IllustrationLisa GodonPatti GoldbergBetty GrantCandyce A. & David A. Gray Family

Foundation of The Saint PaulFoundation

Mark Heymans & Donn BurleighCheryl M. HouleTina Houston

Marlene JohnsonMarnie JohnsonJessica JonesKelly Karlen**Miriam KelenSusan & Timothy KennedyCharles Kippley**Margaret KraemerJames KromhoutEileen KytonenDavid & Joanne LairdCarolyn & Richard LarsonJeffrey Lauber**Steven & Jean LokenMary LongfellowDonna LutzAndrea MackieMatt Blair’s Celebrity PromotionsJill & Robert McGinnisScott & Marilyn McKeeMaureen MelanderRonald MeshbesherMidwest Fiction WritersTim & Mary MileyMildred MillerJudith MorganTara Morrison**Murakami Family Fund of The Saint

Paul FoundationPeter & Karla MyersSherry Myers*Marilyn & Douglas NelsonMary NickDick & Joan NiemiecOak Grove FoundationMargo & Tom O’MalleyVicki Lynn OstromPark Midway BankElizabeth ParkerCheryl Peterson & Kris SchaeferDoris (Suprenant) and Floyd PetersonPaul & Kathi PetersonRobert Podlasek*Robb & Jackie PrinceJudith PurmanCharlie Quimby & Susan CushmanBarbara Randolph-AndersonJack Reddan & Terrie ArfiSara Elise ReedJean ReistadTrevor RichardsRuth Rodriguez**Richard RoesslerJennifer & Benjamin RuncheyMarjorie RuschSally & Alan RuvelsonSusan ScheefeConnie SchmitzRaymond & Leola SchreursSandy SchroepferDavid & Helene Schultz*Maureen SmithClaudine & Philip SolsengEllen SovikSusan Spray**Grant & Marylee StabenowMary E. Strand & Thomas FraserPatricia StrandnessNancy & John StromKathy StultsBrian Swedeen & Terri Burnor*Diane SymeJean Teisberg**Nancy ThornburyTreasure Island Resort & CasinoCynthia Unowsky & Thomas BadowLeta & Morris VinzLillian WallisJane WardellPeggy Weber & Bob WhitlockKathy & Robert Wedl*Mark & Deborah Wehr

David Welper**Beth Grover Wiederholt**John W. & Jan WilkeJeffrey WilliusDebra WilsonMike WitzmannBetsy WrayMartha Wren

$50-$99Anonymous DonorsLynne & David Allen**Mary M. AndersonRebecca ApelDiane ArcherChristine Austin-RoehlerMargaret BarbisJennifer S. BarrettLew & Jean BecconeFred & Eileen BelayJulie Thalhuber Bendel & Chris BendelJane & Howard BergstromJoyce BiaginiMicki BlenkushLes BolstadEdgerton BronsonJudy Brueggemann**Rudy & Elvi BrynolfsonJagadish & Lakshmi BuddhavarapuChuck & Lisbeth ButlerJane & Terry Cagle-Kemp*Stacey Cain**Glenna CaseCara ClineDan & Kate ColeJulie & Jon CookJanine CourtneyBailey CraftTom Cytron-HysomJudy DamerowMichael & Sonja DapperGinger DeRosierDarcy & James Dungan-SeaverJames DunnCarolyn FormanCarol FullerSusan J. FullerJody Gabler*Suzanne GainesCarolyn Ganz & Jim OlsenElizabeth GilmoreDaniel GjeltenMaurice & Kathleen GodonNancy & Vince GodonAllen Gooch & Mary Dow RyerseDebra Nelson Grant & Todd Fleming

GrantLarry & Alice GreenbaumAlton GreenfieldJonathan GrossJean GuttmanPatricia HansenVicki & Dale Hawley**Darlene HaysEllen & Donald HaysDorothy HebertKaren Hesselroth & Timothy PetersonBarbara Walters HodgesJeffrey C. HollandAlice Shallbetter Holm & David HolmJanelle HousePatrick IlliesErica & Tom JacobsonCindy E. JessonHolly JohnsonJo Louise JohnsonJeff JontzJohn JustadCarol KimmesMary KimmesKay KingAndrew Korsberg

Leslie KronaAmy LandgrenPamela Layton & Paul GiguereDean & Sarah LeDouxJeff LeppinkJay & Sally LiebermanGary Loff & Denise CurleyDan LundDavid LymanBill LyonsJames & Connie MadisonEllen MamerLe Hutchins Matts & John MattsRon MazurowskiChristine McVaySharon MonroeMaureen Moo-DodgeThomas & Patoomtip NagleElaine Niman**Jeannette O’ConnorKevin & Peggy O’ConnorKarl OestreichElinor OgdenPolly OlsonJoanne PetersenJanice PetersonKaren PetersonPioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.Derek Prell**Beth ProchnoGinger QuayJohn QuickPam RasmussenBetsy & Del ReedDiane ReisdorferRachel RienscheKaren RobinsonNancy RobinsonJoan SandkampKathryn SchadendorfSecure Computing CorporationSharon SegalManuel SerraPatrick J. ShaughnessyTerry ShimaDarlene SitkoAmy Sitze & Tim KaariSuzanne SmallSue Smukler & Brian MilavitzJim & Ruth StevensSandra Stratton-RuschStephen & Margaret SwansonBeth R. TaylorJean Thilmany & Dan LearyBarbara ThompsonKarin TreiberParker & Albert TrostelJohn TrulenJames & Gerd TuchschererNarender VenkataJeanne Vergeront & Andrew DickLinda VinzSusan WardeKeith & Sharon WellsLeeAnn WolfJudy WoodwardDeborah ZimmermanDebbie & Paul Zisla

Under $50Anonymous DonorsAngie AbrahamBarbara & Chip AllenSally Hoyt AmundsonKathryn AndersonSidonia BalkeMarvin & Helen BauerCoral BergeJulie BlenkushKatherine BowmanSusan BrauerBernice & Horton Brooks

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Greg & Patty BuckGeoff & Laura BullSue BurgerNancy ChapmanErica ChristNancy ColeWilliam L. ConnorSusan CowsertCarita DahlbergStacy DahlstromMarilyn DavernDean DeGrootGordon & Susan DethmersMarlene DickeyLawrence DoblePhilip DoiDonald DrukeBecky Enos & Pat WalkerMarilyn E. EricksonHenry & Patricia EttenMarlene FairchildDavid & Linda FelkerHarold & Joyce Field, Jr.Jerry & Judy FiolaRobert D. & Linda FisherDouglas ForsbergSarah Foster-WaltersLouise FowlerRam & Neena GadaDaniel GardnerJane Gendron**Katherine & Rodney GeorgensBarbara GerlachGayle GilreathDawn GoebelAnne GorhamMichelle GrabowskiMark GregoryGordon & Janet GroverValetta GyurciGuy HaglundRoger & Faye HaglundMaxine Haglund-BlommerCornelia HaleyChristine HammesZola & Eugene HardwickNancy HelmichCynthia HillKaren HillermanAndrea HokenessHeather & Reece HolbrookJenny & Ken HolteChuck & Sarah HoltmanBernice HoltonPamela HoppeJulene HorstmanVirginia HughesGail Irish & Steve BudasMarjorie L. JenkinsAlison JirikAndrew & Jane JirikPhil & Carla JohnsonDonna & Michael KaplanMary Ellen KavanaughTom Keiser & Eileen FurlongDennis & Linda KellyTerri Kendle Sievers & Phil SieversVicky Paprocki KentJill & Jon KirkHolly & John KlugJacci KrebsbachCharles KuhlDonna & Sheldon LandeTharan Leopold & Ruth LillquistDeanne LevanderJay LipeAune LongforsMai Kou LorJo Ellen LundbladDavid Lundquist

Ruby L. LynkMacy’s FoundationKathleen MaleckiEd MarekDarlene & Jerry MarksJay MastrudMargaret McLaughlinTom MelcherMary Jane MelnickRaj MenonRajan & Vatsala MenonMargaret MichaelsonJohn & Kay MichelJeanette MilgromChap & Susan MilisRose MillenPatricia MillerSara MillsIrene MineoiJerry NelsonJill & Nathan NelsonJulie NelsonMuriel NelsonNanci NiedermayerKathleen NydeggerSadie O’ConnorRose Mary O’DonovanVicki OtisLisa Marie Pasquale**Punjabhai PatelPamela Percy & Roger JacksonLorraine PikeLee PitmanBecky PloenBonita PrawerDorothy QueenJo-El Quinn-KroeningSusan Ranney & Brian ShapiroMarne Rasinen**Doris RauschPaula & Puri ReddyPatti & Nelson RhodusPolly Roach & David PattersonDee & Robert RosenbrookLynn RossiterAllison RuncheyJohn & Cheryl RuncheyKathy SchlosserJackie SchottEvelyn SchulteDeborah & Bill SmithRichard StanvilleEva StengelGerald Stiff Jr.Gloria StromJayanti & Bindingana SureshMagda Surrisi**Mary Jo SuttieAlice SwanTCF FoundationJohn TessnerAnita ThompsonBrian ThomsonThrivent Gift Multiplier programJoanne TierneySherry TokkesdalSharon Farsht Torodor & Bill TorodorJennifer Van ValinAnn WalkerPercy WalleyPeg & Doug WangensteenJanet WarwickBarbara WeatherheadCarol WhalenMark & Suzanne WildKent & Nancy WilliamsonRaymond WillisCarole WilschTim & Karen WorkeJamie Young

EVENTS & IN-KIND GIFTSAnonymous DonorsA. Johnson & Sons FloristAcme Comedy CompanyCarolyn AkinyiKathy AndersonASI EmploymentBarnes & Noble BooksellersJane BarnstableBest Buy Brooklyn CenterDan Bishop - Wells Fargo InvestmentsBordersCafe Latté California Pizza KitchenThe Cheesecake FactoryRobert CockerColle+McVoy, Inc.Edna ComedyCommon Good BooksEunice CotéDavid Martin Agency, Inc.Deluxe Corporation FoundationGerald DriessenEdina Realty Home ServicesJudy & Bruce EgglestonBecky EnosFamous Dave’sMargo FjelstadFloor to CeilingFredrikson & Byron FoundationGardner & Gardner CommunicationsMarcia GartonNancy GreenRick GreeneHealthPartnersDeb HolbrookIchiban Japanese Steak HouseIntemark, Inc.Izzy’s Ice Cream CafeJeanne JacobsonPaul & Dianne JacobsonMelissa & Trent JohnsonKowalski’s MarketMitch LarsonGinny LatockiBrenda LindellLindell Classic Carriage ServiceCheryl Lubinski/West ABE ConsortiumMagers & Quinn BooksellersPreeti & Anoop MathurTim MileyMarsha MilgromMinnesota Timberwolves Fastbreak

FoundationMinnesota TwinsMinnesota VikingsMinnesota WildDan MunsonMurakami Family Fund of The Saint

Paul FoundationJudy MurakamiGreg NelsonEric & Mirtha NesheimNewman Long Term CareNorthMarq Corporate SolutionsThe Old Spaghetti FactoryOrdway Center for the Performing ArtsPark Midway BankJennifer PetersPi Beta PhiRasmussen CollegeRJF Agencies Inc.Rosemount Inc./Emerson Process

ManagementRyt-way Industries, Inc.Scott SansSixth Chamber Used BooksSeth SkoraSmith, Schafer & Associates, Ltd.

The Southern TheaterSusan SprayStarbucks CoffeeSweeney’s SaloonTechiesThomas Liquors & Fine WineTrader Joe’s of St. Louis ParkAnn TranvikTreasure Island Resort & CasinoTurf & Ornamental CommunicatorsUrban PlanetValsparLinda VinzJudith W. WalkerJane WardellWeber Shandwick WorldwideWestern National Insurance GroupNathan WhitedBrady WilletteWooley’s RestaurantYMCA Camp IhduhapiBrian Zaidman

THOMAS M. KRAEMER MEMORIALEDUCATION GRANT FUNDJohn CopenhaverCatherine CourtneyN. Warn & Jean CourtneyMike & Linda KraemerKenneth & Karen KraemerPhil & Laurie KraemerMary Jo & Walter RobertsDennis ShawDavid & Chris SwensonTami Williams

RECOGNITION GIFTSIn Honor Of:John Arthur Ahlquist: Beth HorsagerJudy Alexander: Martha AndersonAngel: Steve & Pam RohdeBase Camp friends & clients: Scott

JorgensenRoger Betz’ 70th birthday: Charles

Betz & Suzanne MagdaleneInez & Bob Brown: Sara EhlenKaitlin Brown: Calee BrownDorien Busch: Karol GresserRoxanne Butler: Ben ButlerWarren Chirhart & Carla Cyr: Richard

& Carol GrossMark Digre: Walter & Therese MuellerDan and Jackie Endy’s 50th

anniversary: Chuck RoehrickColin Michael Frame-Day’s birth:

Stephanie Frame-DayPam Giebink: Ruth OlkonSheila Gothmann’s birthday: Marsha

MilgromCathy Grady: Benjamin HubbardAgnes Greene: Harlan CopelandKatie & Hal Johnson: James & Berteil

Mahoney, James & ChristinaPeterson

Shruti Kasetty & Sandeep Prabhakar’swedding: Preeti & Anoop Mathur

Bridget Kromhout: Caileen KromhoutDennis & Sharon LaComb: Adam

SimmetJohn & Laurie Larson: Dawn &

Thomas LarsonLogoJoe Promotions’ clients: Freddie

WeisbergLena Mayer: Mary Grace Griffin &

Raymond DietmanDel McKinney: Mark McKinneyMulcahy children’s teachers: Diana

MulcahyEric Nesheim: Jean E. & B.C. Hart,

David & Tami Nesheim

Tomas Nieboer: Julie BlenkushBecky Omdahl: Denise DreherFlorence Onslow: Richard OnslowRebecca Orman & Christian

Fredrickson’s wedding: AndrewMagill

Sally Ruvelson’s retirement: RamseyCounty Community CorrectionsDepartment; Friends of Sally

Jane Slade: Mark SladeLinda Vinz: Leta & Morris VinzJudith Walker: Peter HofrenningJanet Warwick: Franciscan Sisters of

St. PaulWestern National Insurance

employees: Ginny LatockiRena Wong & Tad Ware’s wedding

shower: David Crum, Elise Crum,Nelda Keeley, Todd Lundquist,Jessica Sherman

Kaitlin & Benjamin Yoder-Henley:Michael Henley & Randi Yoder

In Memory Of:Ted Asao: Charlie & Lori RogerSarabeth Barnes: Harlan CopelandDenise Carty-Bennia: Sylvia CartyEllen Citron: Plekkenpol Builders, Inc.Jim Daly: Eleanor DalyRichard Ewens: Fred & Eileen Belay,

William L. Connor, Jr., Kathyrn &Donald Ewens, Ann Freemire,Margaret Pecarina, Pat Utecht

Catherine P. Fossom: Joanne BacklundLorraine Harkins: Hanna CooperLaura Jaeger: ADC Foundation, Linda

Odegard & Harlan CavertFrances & James Kennedy: Mary Ellen

KennedyHazel Kolcinski: Patrise Russell &

Scott NeilFrancis J. Kraemer: Heidi & Steve

Caskey & Family, Margaret Kraemer,Dona & Randy Rowland, Jill & TonyUrdahl

Pauline Lambert: Merritt NequetteDaniel & Chad Lee: Doug & Majel

CarrollLois Muehlberg: Julie MuehlbergMy Dad: AnonymousEugene P. Olsen: Nancy OlsenMarian Post: Anonymous employee of

Morgan StanleyNeil B. Sandberg: Jill & Jon KirkAnn Scanlon: Betsy ParrishMary M. Simmet: Diane GrasseNancy Smith: Mary Diane BassMary Lee Swinarski: Dan & Kate ColeVera Walseth: Donna Shaheen

*Designates Literacy GEMs – donorswho “Give Electronically Monthly.”

**Designates gifts received throughCommunity Shares of Minnesota,United Way & other workplace givingprograms including those atAmeriprise Financial, ING, LawsonSoftware, Morgan Stanley, ThomsonWest, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans,UnitedHealth Group, Wells Fargo andWPG Solutions.

MLC apologizes for any errors oromissions. Please forward correctionsto Linda Vinz at lvinz@theMLC.org or651-645-2277, Ext. 236.

On the back cover: GED students Wilner Francois and Timothy Yohannes with volunteer tutor Paul Debpov Lee (center).

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDST. PAUL, MN

PERMIT NO. 4794756 Transfer Road

St. Paul, Minnesota 55114-1404