Get Involved / Donate
Imagine the inability to complete a job application, decipher a medicine label, or read a story to your children. As hard as that may be to envision, the sad truth is that about 51 million adults in the United States (about one-fifth of the adult population) possess literacy skills defined as "Level 1," meaning that the tasks mentioned above are beyond their abilities. More than 60 percent of those individuals did not finish high school.
Another 85 million people (33 percent of the adult population) described as "Level 2" can perform tasks like comparing, contrasting, or integrating basic information but lack higher-level reading and problem-solving skills.
Thus, just over one-half of the adult population in the United States can be described as "literacy challenged." The negative impact on us as a nation is undeniable. There is a direct link between low literacy skills and poverty, high-risk births, increased healthcare costs, drug addiction, and crime. While the number of adults seeking literacy assistance grows annually, government funding for such programs remains very low.
There are numerous ways to become involved with helping the fight against illiteracy. Volunteering is a great way to make a difference. There are organizations through which individuals and corporations can become involved with literacy, whether one-on-one tutoring, teaching, or other volunteer opportunities.
Another important way to become involved in the struggle for literacy is through contributions to the Wish You Well Foundation®. Combining the gifts from individuals and corporations with the Wish You Well Foundation can make a significant impact. For more information about donations, visit "Corporate Giving and Individual Giving."
A financial statement for Wish You Well Foundation® is available upon written request from the Virginia Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs.