Bradenton, FL – November 18, 2025

At Manatee Literacy Council, we believe that improving adult literacy by just one percent can transform Manatee County. That’s why our 1% Literacy Initiative aims to serve 1,000 adult learners this year, because every learner strengthens their family, their workplace, and their community. By increasing the literacy level of just 680 adults in 2026, we can make amazing changes in our community.

To reach this important milestone, we must nearly double our classes and tutoring, especially for the adults entering at our most fundamental English levels. Each class costs $9,300 a year, and sponsoring a three-month semester costs $2,325.

This expansion requires community support, and the end of the year is the most powerful time to give, thanks to a special opportunity.

⭐ Double Your Impact Through December

Through December 31, the Flanzer Philanthropic Trust* may match gifts from $5 to $500 monthly, doubling your impact instantly.

• Your $25/month becomes $50/month

• Your $50/month becomes $100/month

• Your $500 one-time gift becomes $1,000

This makes monthly giving and mid-level gifts incredibly powerful as we push to reach our $140,000 annual goal.

🌳 The LEAF Donor Ladder: Growing Literacy, One Leaf at a Time

Every donor becomes part of our Literacy Legends Tree, a vibrant visual showing how generosity fuels literacy growth throughout Manatee County. Each tier provides special recognition and supports real learning for adults in our community.

🌱 Sprout — $10/month or up to $120 one-time

Recognition: Your name appears on our Tree of Legends.
This level provides learning materials, notebooks, and digital access for learners

🌿 Seedling — $25/month or $120–$500 one-time

Recognition: Your logo or photo featured on social media.
This level is especially powerful right now:
234 people giving $25/month (matched to $50/month) would fully fund our $140,000 goal.

🌳 Sapling — $50/month or $501–$1,000 one-time

Recognition: Featured on social media and in our quarterly newsletter.
This level sustains technology, virtual learning platforms, assessment tools, and tutoring resources that support growing classes.

🌲 Spruce — $100/month or $1,000–$3,000 one-time

Recognition: A feature story on our social media, newsletter, and website.
Spruce donors help us develop new classes for our most critical classes.

🌲🌲 Sequoia — $250+/month or $3,000+ one-time

Recognition: All previous benefits plus personalized recognition shaped around your preferences.
A Sequoia donor can fund an entire semester or more of literacy instruction.

Sponsor a Semester — 

A three-month semester of a class costs $2,325. That amount supports:

• Instructor support
• Curriculum and workbooks
• Digital platforms and technology
• Assessments and goal tracking
• A welcoming, supportive class environment

Your sponsorship provides direct learning for 15–20 adults, neighbors who are working hard to build English skills, gain confidence, and improve their families’ futures.

Individuals, families, churches, businesses, and civic groups can all sponsor a semester or combine contributions to make it happen.

Every Leaf Matters. Every Dollar Grows Our Community.

Whether you join as a Sprout, a Seedling, a Sapling, a Spruce, or a Sequoia, your generosity grows opportunities for adults across all our literacy levels. Every leaf on our Literacy Legends Tree represents a life transformed.

And remember:

Gifts between $5 and $500 MAY BE doubled through December 31 through the Flanzer Philanthropic Trust*. 

There has never been a better or more impactful time to give.

Together, we can reach 1% of low-literacy adults in Manatee County and transform our community one learner at a time.

*The Flanzer matching program accepts monthly donations from an individual, their donor-advised fund, or personal foundation ranging from $5 to $500 per household with a maximum of $3,000 per year, per charity. Donations can be made to multiple charities. Corporate, multi-member LLCs, LLPs, and similar entities are not eligible.

If you would like more information on what MLC is doing to increase the literacy level of adults in Manatee County, please email us at info@manatee-literacy.org.  If you would like to donate to help Manatee County reach this transformational goal, please visit our donation page.