Only 21 Days Until the Toast to Literacy!
 

We are just 21 days away from the Toast to Literacy, happening on April 10, and it is not too late to be part of this incredible evening!

 

For over a decade, Toast to Literacy has been a driving force behind Aspire’s mission, helping us deliver life-changing literacy programs across North Texas.

 

And this year, you can help us make an even greater impact.

 

✅ Get Your Tickets: Every ticket purchased helps empower adult learners to achieve their goals and build brighter futures for themselves and their families. Don’t wait – secure your ticket now at toasttoliteracy.org!

 

🤝 Become a Sponsor: Amplify your impact by becoming a sponsor! Your sponsorship helps Aspire provide best-practice solutions for learners and drive meaningful change throughout our community.

Even if you cannot attend, you can still make a difference by underwriting the event or making a donation. Every contribution brings us one step closer to breaking the cycle of low literacy and creating generational change.

 

Visit toasttoliteracy.org for sponsorship, underwriting, and donation opportunities.

 

For additional questions, contact Paul DiBiase, at pauldibiase@aspiretolearn.org.

 

Thank you for being part of this transformative effort. Together, we are rewriting the future for our neighbors in need!

 

March is National Reading Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the importance of reading in our lives. During this special month, schools, libraries, and organizations like Aspire highlight the transformative power of reading for people of all ages. 
 

When adults improve their reading skills, the benefits extend far beyond their personal growth. Research consistently shows that a parent's literacy level is a strong predictor of their children's academic success. Adults with stronger literacy skills are better equipped to:

Your continued support helps us expand Aspire's vital programs. Consider deepening your involvement through volunteering, donating, or simply spreading the word about the importance of adult literacy.
 

By supporting adult readers, you're helping build a foundation for literacy that spans generations.

 

Learn more about Aspire here.

 

When attorney Dan Tatum heard a KERA radio announcement about LIFT (now Aspire) in August 2011, he didn't hesitate. Two days later, he was a volunteer, beginning what would become over a decade of service.

 

"It was like a free pass to teach," Dan recalls enthusiastically. "I didn't have to get a degree or be certified. I could just stand up in front of people and start talking." As someone who enjoys public speaking—"one of the reasons I'm a lawyer"—teaching was a natural fit.

 

Born and raised in Fort Worth, Dan grew up in a family that deeply valued education. This educational foundation led him to Washington and Lee University in Virginia, where he graduated with a history degree before attending law school at the University of Houston Law Center.

 

When asked what he's learned from volunteering, Dan emphasizes the value of direct service. "In my early career, I served on nonprofit boards, but what I learned about myself teaching for LIFT, and subsequently Aspire, was that I really get a huge kick out of being boots on the ground."

 

This hands-on experience has transformed Dan's perspective. "There's a large humanistic element to my personality that maybe I wasn't aware of before. It's changed my views and how I interact with my friends." This shift in worldview extends to his professional life as well. “I think of my clients as my people, and I'm grateful to each of them for the opportunity to serve them, which has deepened how I interact with them and enhanced my enjoyment of my work.”

 

When asked what he hopes for his students, Dan thoughtfully replied: "On the most basic level, I hope they're all able to achieve whatever motivates them, whether it's further education, improving their employment situation, or just being able to read with their children at night."

 

But his aspirations for them go deeper: "I hope I'm able to inspire them to reach beyond that. The ability to read opens all kinds of worlds for you. I hope they can see the way the world can open up for them by improving their ability to read and comprehend."

 

Dan also shares wisdom gained through years of service: "What I think I want is to leave the world a little bit better place for me having been here, even if nobody else knows it. That will bring me satisfaction. Aspire gives me the opportunity to do that—it's a personal mission they help me fulfill."

 

Interested in helping transform lives through literacy? Visit aspiretolearn.org/volunteer to join Aspire as a volunteer.

Formerly known as LIFT and Aberg Center for Literacy

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