Ruth J. & Robert J. Colvin Fund

Ruth Colvin is referred to as the mother of the adult literacy movement in the U.S. She began a volunteer literacy program in 1962 when she had no experience as a teacher or nonprofit leader, which she eventually turned into Literacy Volunteers of America, one of the largest adult literacy programs in the world. In 2002, that organization merged with Laubach Literacy International to become ProLiteracy, which is still based in Syracuse.Through that, Ruth taught literacy training in 62 countries including many developing countries.

Ruth is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the President’s Volunteer Action Award, and is also a member of the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Ruth established this fund to support education in perpetuity.

Donate Now