SIOUX FALLS, S.D., November 15, 2024 — The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust on Friday granted $15,000 to Reach Literacy to support the organization’s mission to empower adults and children through literacy.
Staff from Helmsley’s Sioux Falls office volunteered at Reach Literacy on Friday, helping to stock the organization’s shelves with newly donated books.
“The Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives through health and select place-based initiatives, and part of that commitment involves giving back to the communities we call home,” said Walter Panzirer, a Helmsley Trustee. “Helmsley’s Sioux Falls staff is honored to partner with Reach Literacy and support the organization’s outstanding work.”
The funding will help Reach Literacy continue to meet the needs of those in the Sioux Falls area.
“We’re grateful for this funding, which helps us keep our literacy classes free for those in our community who need them most,” said Reach Literacy Executive Director Molly O’Connor. “It also strengthens our onsite classroom, allowing us to offer a supportive space where learners can build their skills and confidence at their own pace.”
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About the Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $4.5 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care, bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas, and provide state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded more than $750 million to organizations and initiatives in the states of Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and two U.S. Pacific territories, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. For more information, visit helmsleytrust.org.
About Reach Literacy
Reach Literacy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals through literacy. Based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Reach offers a wide range of accessible programs designed to meet the needs of those with low or no reading skills. From Workplace Literacy classes to the Read to Succeed tutoring program and Pre-CNA courses, Reach provides life-changing opportunities for individuals to gain confidence, improve their literacy, and build skills for a brighter future. In addition to its literacy services, Reach operates a community-driven bookstore where donated books are sold to support its mission. All programs are offered free of charge, ensuring that everyone in the Sioux Empire has the opportunity to learn and succeed. For more information, visit reachliteracy.org.