New Year, New Class

The PVLA is excited to announce that we have a new class available for students! We are now offering an Introductory ESL and Integration class on Thursday nights from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

You may be thinking, “Wait! Don’t you already have an Introductory ESL class and an Integration class?”

And the answer is yes, but the new class combines both of these sessions together.

The PVLA still offers an Integration class on Saturdays from 10:00 to 11:00, and will (hopefully) be offering an Introductory ESL class on Tuesdays from 9:00 to 11:00. By combining these classes together and offering them in the evening, our goal is to make sure we are helping as many students as possible at times that work for them.

What Does the Introductory ESL and Integration Class Offer?

Introductory ESL classes give adult students the foundation they need to learn the English language. Once they have the basics, they can then move onto higher level English classes, citizenship classes, or GED classes to obtain the skills and knowledge they need to accomplish their goals.

The weekly class is designed to provide basic information such as teaching students the alphabet, numbers, colors, and how to introduce themselves, among others. The classes are centered around 12 lessons, which are taught on a continuous loop throughout the year.

The goal of the Integration Class is to help transition newcomers to the area into their new community. The class is designed to provide basic information such as where and how to apply for jobs, how to find doctors and dentists and make appointments, how to navigate the community, and how to open a bank account, among others.

How to Register for the Class

If the Introductory ESL and Integration class sounds like something you’re interested in attending, all you have to do is show up during the class time. The instructor will get you registered and ready to go!

The class is free.

We are excited about being able to offer this evening class, and we hope students are thrilled to attend!

If you have questions, please reach out using the form on the right-hand side of the blog or send an email to pvlacolumbusne @ yahoo.com (don’t forget to remove the spaces!).

The United Way Fundraising Campaign is About to Begin

It’s that time of year again when the local United Way will be visiting businesses to ask for donations. For many, this can feel cringey and weird. No one wants to feel like they are being pressured into giving money.

Thankfully, the United Way isn’t pressuring you into giving money, but they do want you to be informed about the amazing programs and services that your donations support. As a United Way Partner Agency, the PVLA hopes that you’ll consider helping out your community. It doesn’t take much to make a big difference.

Here is what the Columbus Area United Way does:

United Way fights for education, financial stability, and health of every person in every community. We are a part of the world’s largest charity but are known as a hyper local organization for Columbus area serving the counties of Boone, Colfax, Platte, and Nance.

MISSION: To focus resources to measurably improve the education, health, and financial stability of our community.

WHAT WE DO

Columbus Area United Way is a nonprofit dedicated to impacting our community in critical areas identified by the community through community-based assessments. Columbus Area United Way focuses on the three pillars of Education, Financial Stability, and Health. The Board of Directors, through a strategic initiative, identified the following areas of focus through 2024.

Education

• Kindergarten Readiness
• Improve and maintain community public schools 4-year graduation rates

Financial Stability

• Adults improve job relevant skills
• Ensure basic needs are met

Health

• Community members educated on healthier lifestyle choice
• Decrease suicide attempts of youth

In taking this approach, we have the unique ability to convene, collaborate, and direct resources where they are most needed. CAUW conducts community needs assessments, secures critical resources to fund vital social services, provides fiscal oversight and accountability for community partners, and evaluates program results to measure and communicate community impact.

We also provide local employers, employees, and other donors a cost-effective system to address community needs while allowing other local agencies and programs to concentrate more on serving and less on fundraising.

CAUW gives people a trustworthy place to donate funds, knowing that their dollars will go to meet the greatest areas of need in the community, and money raised locally stays in the community. Our local United Way has contributed more than $8.5 million in the last 10 years alone!

WHY WE DO IT

• We want to help the 42% of single mom families that are in poverty become financially stable.
• Because 16% of 10th graders report having suicidal thoughts and they need to know they are worthy and valued. Reducing risky behaviors leads to a healthy lifestyle, which leads to overall stability.
• Studies indicate if a child is behind by third grade, chances are much greater that they will not graduate from high school. CAUW focuses on having children ready for Kindergarten and on a student’s social/emotional health during their academic years to be prepared for life.

THE VALUE OF THE UNITED WAY BRAND

• We hope to see our children succeeding, our families strengthened, and our community thriving.
• United Way is ranked #1 on Forbes 2018 list of 100 largest US charities.
• The United Way brand is recognized by 85% of the public and in 95% of US workplaces.
• 78% of employees surveyed nationally want to work for a company that gives back and are proud of their employer’s support of United Way.
• We are committed to efficiency, transparency, and accountability. CAUW conducts thorough research that supports our community investments. CAUW advocates for programming that provides impact, stability, and growth for our community members. CAUW has compassionate and knowledgeable volunteer leadership from individuals just like you.
• There are a range of studies that consistently demonstrate that there is a significant relationship between volunteering and good health, in addition to the social benefits brought about by volunteering. For example, a report by United Health Group, Doing Good is Good for You: 2013 Health and Volunteering Study, found that 76% of US adults who volunteer report that volunteering has made them feel physically healthier, and 78% report that volunteering lowers their levels of stress, leading to feeling better than adults who do not volunteer.

What Does it Mean to Get Grants?

Photo by 金 运 on Unsplash

If you follow our Facebook page, then you’ve probably noticed a lot of posts about grants that the PVLA has received. You might be thinking: Wow! Good for them!

You might also be thinking: What’s up with all these grants? What exactly is a grant?

And these are reasonable questions. This post will help clear up any confusion. 😊

What Are Grants?

In essence, grants are funds that are awarded to a nonprofit from some type of foundation, organization, or business. More often than not, the PVLA has to apply for these funds, and the awarding entity decides if our cause is worthy of money.

Grant funds are typically restricted, which means that they can only be used for a specific program or purpose.

For example, the PVLA offers a wide range of classes, including Book Club, Integration Class, Conversational English, Citizenship, etc. While all of these classes are amazing and help students become successful, they are not all covered by grant money.

Some organizations prefer to fund very specific programs, such as Tyson Foods awarding a grant specifically for the Introductory ESL class.

Or the Nebraska Presbyterian Foundation specifically sending money for the Integration and Citizenship classes.

When a grantor restricts funds to specific programs, the PVLA can only spend the money on those specific programs.

And those are perfectly reasonable and accepted practices. Every entity has something different they are interested in and want to support, so they send funds to help with causes/classes they care about.

Why So Many Grants?

And that brings us to why the PVLA has so many grants. With each one being allocated to a specific program, we need to make sure we have the funds necessary to pay instructors and provide students with up-to-date learning materials.

That’s why we have received so many grants recently. Each one takes care of a different program and ensures our nonprofit has what it needs to provide for students.

Having that many grants is a good thing. It means that others are invested in our mission and want to see the PVLA and our students succeed.

Grants Are Not Guaranteed

One thing to keep in mind with grants is that they are not guaranteed. The PVLA has been incredibly lucky to receive the funds that we have, and the money is used exactly for what it’s supposed to be used for.

We are so grateful to the foundations, organizations, and businesses that have awarded us grants so far this year. Again, it shows that these other places are just as invested in our mission as we are. With those funds, we get to keep providing services.

Celebrate Good Times

So, when you see a post on Facebook or even here on the blog talking about grants that the PVLA has been awarded, we hope that you celebrate with us. A win for us is a win for our students, which in turn is a win for Columbus. 

We are all intertwined, and what benefits one of us, benefits us all.

Once again, here’s a big THANK YOU to the entities that have awarded us grants so far:

Tyson Foods

Columbus Area United Way

Our local Walmart

Nebraska Presbyterian Foundation

Dollar General

The Generosity of Others

Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash

There is nothing more exciting than opening the mailbox and finding a check waiting for you. Even if you were expecting the money, it still brings a smile to your face and makes the world seem a little brighter. If you weren’t expecting the money, then seeing a check is even more exciting and memorable.

A few weeks ago, here at the PVLA, we were surprised with a grant check for $5,000 from an anonymous donor. We had applied for the money, but it was uncertain whether we’d get it. Until the check is in our hands, we never take anything for granted (play-on words done purposefully 😊).

The money has been allocated to support our programming, which means it will have a direct impact on our students and instructors.

Without grant allocations, the PVLA wouldn’t be able to do what we do. We rely on the generosity of others, and we are always impressed with how many people share our vision of helping adult students become successful.

Here’s to the amazing donors in the world that share our vision of empowering individuals to reach their educational goals!

Photo by Lip on Unsplash