Luncheon for Literacy raises funds for BC3 programming
BUTLER TWP — Christina Coughenour has been reading “Dragons Love Tacos” to her 10-year-old twins, Alice and Miriam Coughenour, for most of their lives, and on Sunday, Feb. 18, the family’s tribute to the children’s story got high recognition.
The table, designed in part by Alice and Miriam, earned the judge’s choice award at the sixth annual Luncheon for Literacy at Butler County Community College. Miriam said the book is about dragons who make salsa and tacos, and their table featured a centerpiece containing characters from the book, a salsa tray and tortilla chips.
Christina Coughenour said it was the first Luncheon for Literacy for the twins, but several other members of their family have ties to BC3 and the event’s cause.
“My husband, my mother and my brother-in-law all got their GEDs here, so we like to support the literacy program,” she said.
The Butler Rotary Club PM hosts a Luncheon for Literacy at BC3 each year to raise money for its literacy program, which helps some people earn their general education degrees and others learn English as a second language. Other available courses include reading and comprehension.
Millie Pinkerton, a member of the literacy luncheon committee of the Rotary Club, said the program helps people reach their educational goals in a number of areas.
“It’s mostly for people who have never gotten a GED or people who do not have English as a first language,” Pinkerton said. “It’s just really a great thing for people who can't afford an education and really want to get an education.”
Founder’s Hall at BC3 featured 32 sponsored tables Sunday, and each was decorated to symbolize a book chosen by the table’s sponsors. People at the luncheon could vote with their money on their favorite tables for the people’s choice award, and the luncheon also offered raffles that raised money for BC3.
Barb Gade, grant director of BC3’s adult literacy program, said during the luncheon the program’s classes are completely funded through federal and state money, but testing for the students is not covered. The Rotary Club has helped the program provide scholarships to help students pay the $142 it costs to take all four tests required to earn a General Education Development diploma.
“If they want to take the GED, we’re allowed to give them a scholarship for the practice test, but we weren’t allowed to scholarship them for the actual test,” Gade said. “Rotary heard about our need … it helps us to afford what we do in the community.”
According to Pinkerton, the luncheon raised about $3,200 in its first year. This year’s total is as yet unknown.
“As more people learn about it, we’re raising more money,” Pinkerton said.
Two alumni of BC3’s literacy program spoke at the luncheon, Cearra Mackalica, who earned her GED through BC3, and Khadija Akhouad, who learned English as a second language at the college.
Mackalica said the classes at BC3 gave her more than just the knowledge to pass the GED tests. She is now a student at BC3, with the goal of becoming a dentist.
“I am forever grateful for this program, and this program and its staff welcomed me with open arms and still treat me like family to this day,” she said. “It gave me the tools to succeed, it gave me hope, courage and better role models and a brighter future.”
Akhouad said she also is taking college courses at BC3 after learning English at the college. In 2019, she relocated to the U.S. from Morocco, and only knew how to speak Arabic and French.
Akhouad said the move made her feel she lost her voice and personality, but learning English at BC3 helped her to regain confidence, as well as find new opportunities in the country.
“I wish I could communicate more effectively and be the person I used to be,” she said. “Participating in the ESL program was a significant milestone in my journey; the program gave me the skills to communicate and interact with people from different backgrounds. This helped me break language barriers and establish connections.”
The Luncheon for Literacy has a keynote speaker each year who has a background in writing or the English language. This year, it was author Juliette Godot, a writer and avid genealogist. The BC3 alumna spoke about her writing process and read an excerpt from her book, “From the Drop of Heaven,” which was available for purchase at the luncheon.
Pinkerton said she always enjoys the luncheon, but the table decorations are what makes it one of her favorite annual events in Butler.
“It's so amazing all the ideas, and there are never any duplications,” Pinkerton said. “You meet so many people you maybe have not met before and they're at this luncheon.”
