Delaware Coalition for Literacy Latest Recipient of U.S. English Donation

The Diamond State’s newest members will be the true beneficiaries

DOVER, Del. – More than two centuries ago, with the desire to “form a more perfect Union,” Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution. Today, in a continuing effort to welcome newcomers to our great nation through English instruction, U.S. English presented the Delaware Coalition for Literacy (DCL) with a $1,000 donation.

At the State Capitol in Dover, U.S. English representative John R. Davis presented DCL Executive Director Syd Goldberg with a check that will further DCL’s mission to offer literacy services to all non-English proficient Delawareans. “While we are serving a significant number of people already, there are a lot more people out there who need our services,” said Goldberg. “Continued funding from sources like U.S. English ensures that we can be ready to serve the ever growing population of immigrants wishing to learn English.”

The Delaware Coalition for Literacy instructs more than 5,000 students in 74 locations statewide. Under the theme “Literacy drives the future,” DCL believes investing in language skills pays dividends for all residents while enhancing the economy and the state. “Studies have proven the link between English proficiency and income,” explained Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of U.S. English, “but the key is to do something about it. The Delaware Coalition for Literacy should be commended for their efforts to turn immigrants into the next generation of successful Americans.”

The gift, part of an ongoing series by U.S. English to provide immigrant adults the opportunity to learn our common language, comes at a time when Delaware is experiencing tremendous growth in welcoming those from other nations. The state doubled its foreign born population in the last decade and saw significant increases in speakers of Spanish, Russian, Tagalog and Chinese.

“The number of limited English proficient people in Delaware nearly doubled during the 1990s,” said Mujica. “Programs such as the Delaware Coalition for Literacy ensure that our nation’s first state can also lead the country in helping immigrants reach their goals.”

U.S. English, Inc. is the nation's oldest and largest non-partisan citizens' action group dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States. Founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, U.S. English, Inc. (www.usenglish.org) now has more than 1.8 million members.