Student Literacy Group at UA Kicks Off Fundraising Campaign

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Literacy is the Edge, a University of Alabama student advocacy group dedicated to ending functional illiteracy in West Alabama, will begin its 2011 fundraising campaign Monday, Nov. 7, at the Ferguson Center.

Functional illiteracy refers to the lack of basic reading, writing and math skills needed to function in everyday life.

This year’s campaign  runs through Thursday, Nov. 17, and will focus on raising funds for the Literacy Council of West Alabama. LCWA strives to make literacy a top priority throughout the Tuscaloosa area and West Alabama as a part of a “Build Back Better” initiative they launched after Tuscaloosa’s devastating April 27 tornado.

UA students can donate $1 by swiping their Action Cards. Each time a card is swiped, that cardholder will receive an automatic entry into a raffle for a free iPad. Cash donations will also be accepted.

The next opportunity to donate will be at Quidditch on the Quad on Sunday, Nov. 13. LITE will also hold a fundraiser at Zoe’s Greek Restaurant in Bryant-Denny Stadium later this year.

LITE, founded in 2008 at UA, supports the efforts of the Literacy Council of West Alabama by increasing awareness of functional illiteracy and recruiting volunteers to help. Since 2008, LITE has recruited more than 2,000 UA students to support literacy efforts.

For more information or to become involved with the campaign, please search Twitter for Literacy is the Edge or visit LITE’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LiteracyIsTheEdge