NCFL and Toyota Select Cities to Launch Family Literacy Programs for Hispanic and Other Immigrant Families

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 5, 2003 -- Toyota and the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) today announced the four remaining cities selected to receive funding to implement the Toyota Family Literacy Program (TFLP). The cities are Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, and Providence. New York City was announced in April as the first city chosen for the program. The TFLP is a new initiative to help Hispanic and other immigrant families with the lowest literacy skills.

Toyota recently made a $3.2 million grant to NCFL for establishing model family literacy programs in five cities with significant or quickly growing Hispanic populations. The goal is to develop model programs that can be replicated nationwide. NCFL will develop three programs in each of these five cities and provide training and technical assistance over a three-year period, as well as instructional materials that can be used nationally. The programs will launch this fall.

"Parents in many recently immigrated Hispanic families speak little to no English and because of limited education, often possess low literacy skills in their native language," said Sharon Darling, NCFL president and founder. "When these parents arrive here, they also frequently struggle to assist their children's literacy development."

Programs will help parents in at-risk Hispanic and other immigrant families improve their education, English speaking, work and parenting skills, while helping their children succeed in school.

With Toyota's support, NCFL developed the family literacy model that is cited in federal legislation, including Even Start and Head Start. Family literacy integrates adult education, children's education, interactive literacy activities called Parent and Child Together (PACT) Time, and parent training (Parent Time) into one comprehensive program. In family literacy programs, parents and children work and learn together, giving parents an opportunity to increase their skills as their children's first and most important teacher.

Hispanics are America's most rapidly growing population. According to Census 2000, 35.3 million Hispanics live in the United States. Fourteen million are foreign-born. Local statistics for the five cities include:

  * Los Angeles:  4.2 million Hispanics rank the city first nationally among
    the largest metropolitan Hispanic populations.
  * New York City:  2.3 million Hispanics rank the city second nationally
    among the largest metropolitan Hispanic populations.
  * Chicago:  1.4 million Hispanics rank the city third nationally among the
    largest metropolitan Hispanic populations.
  * Washington, DC:  432,000 Hispanics amount to a 346% increase in the
    Hispanic population for the twenty years between 1980 and 2000.
  * Providence:  93,868 Hispanics amount to a 325% increase in the Hispanic
    population for the twenty years between 1980 and 2000.

NCFL has pioneered family literacy programs in the United States since 1989. Toyota became a major partner with NCFL in 1991 and has now contributed more than $19 million to establish family literacy model programs throughout the country. The Toyota Family Literacy Program is the first family literacy initiative to focus on the specific needs of Hispanic families with low English and literacy skills.

"The partnership between Toyota and NCFL has been the catalyst for more than 5,000 family literacy programs which have benefited hundreds of thousands of families throughout America," said Sharon Darling, NCFL's president and founder. "We're pleased that Toyota is taking the next step along with us in providing family literacy opportunities to Hispanic families in five cities with significant need."

"For more than 12 years, NCFL has demonstrated to Toyota and the communities where the programs have been established that the family literacy approach works," said Toshiaki "Tag" Taguchi, president and CEO of Toyota Motor North America. "Toyota's core values and those of NCFL are very compatible. We respect the leadership and staff of NCFL in their commitment and ability to improve the lives of so many American families," he added.

Toyota's funding also includes the first grant to NCFL's new Hispanic Family Literacy Institute, which was announced in March. The Institute is designed to expand services for the educational, social and economic advancement of Hispanic families in need.

"The Toyota Family Literacy Program is dedicated to providing NCFL's finest resources in supporting the future success of our nation's most disadvantaged immigrant families," added Sharon Darling. "Toyota's ongoing and generous support allows NCFL to reach those parents and their children who need support in breaking the cycle of under-education and poverty between generations."