Literacy for Life Campaign exceeds goal, $750,000. raised!

The Tompkins Learning Partners Literacy for Life Campaign has raised a total of $750,000 in gifts and pledges from generous friends and donors, handily exceeding the $660,000 announced at the campaign’s kick-off last August.
The success of the campaign will make it possible for Tompkins Learning Partners to enhance and expand the agency’s successful programs at a time when there is a growing demand for adult literacy tutoring services. It will also allow the agency to renovate the building it now owns at 124 W. State Street, thanks to the generous donation of David and Elaine Easton of Weedsport, New York. The building will be renamed in honor of Elaine’s mother, Pauline Bailey Jones, the former owner of the property.
The gift of the house, where Tompkins Learning Partners rented the first floor for sixteen years, effectively doubled the agency’s space. The additional space will be used for tutoring rooms, a library, a conference room and staff offices. A new heating system has already been installed and plans are being made for a new roof, windows, exterior and interior painting, foundation work, new carpeting and other furnishings. In addition, a reading garden will be created with the help of a team of Cornell students.
The campaign began two years ago, under the able leadership of co-chairs Carl Haynes, president of Tompkins Cortland Community College, and then Tompkins Learning Board President, Tom Weiler. The co-chairs were assisted in their efforts by Tompkins Learning Partners’ longtime Executive Director Dave Smith, the campaign committee and the agency’s board of directors.
An early $100,000 gift from Arthur Kuckes and Martha Wright through the Vector Magnetics Fund at the Tompkins Charitable Gift Fund helped set the tone for the campaign. The couple also made a second $100,000 gift that helped conclude the campaign. Other key support came from Tom Weiler, Chuck Tauck and Fran Littin, Security Mutual Insurance, Triad Foundation, Mack & Carol Travis, BorgWarner, Kionix, CFCU Community Credit Union, Tompkins Charitable Gift Fund, Tompkins Trust Company and Tompkins Insurance Agencies.
Tompkins Learning Partners is enormously grateful to the 164 individuals, foundations, and businesses that stepped up to assist with this important effort and who, through their great generosity, ensured the success of the Literacy for Life Campaign.

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