Patricia Gillin-Furr

This month's Community Champion recognition belongs to Patricia Gillin-Furr, volunteer at Literacy Volunteers of the Roanoke Valley.

Literacy Volunteers of the Roanoke Valley is an organization that teaches “English literacy skills to adults and raises literacy awareness throughout the Roanoke Valley.” Patricia Gillin-Furr has been volunteering as a tutor and supporter of the Literacy Volunteers since 2008, where she has contributed over 400 hours.  Through her time and dedication, she has helped numerous learners to achieve their goals in working with them twice weekly in public libraries. Combined with her tutoring, lesson planning can reach up to 40 hours a week. Her personal motto is “Knowledge is Power,” which she uses to inspire her learners. When Patricia first starts to work with a new learner she offers them a pocket dictionary as a first gift. Her second gift is to teach them how to use the dictionary.

Over the last few years, Patricia has helped those lucky learners reach their personal goals, by writing their first letter, improve their spelling and grammar skills, and learning to enjoy reading books and newspapers. Recently, Patricia has helped form an Employment Group that works with learners who are unemployed. She keeps abreast of job openings and other information, while meeting with learners to help them with their job skills, interview skills, resume or job searches.

Let’s all give a “hearty job well done,” to Mrs. Patricia Gillin-Furr, our June 2011 Community Champion.

101.5 the music place and our partners at the Fork Restaurants salute all our Community Champions and know their selflessness will inspire us all.

Submit your nomination to: communitychampion[at]1015themusicplace[dot]com.

Please join us in celebrating the champions in our community! Each month, send in your nominations by the 25th day of the month, with their name, contact information, and why you believe they are a Community Champion. We will feature the selected Community Champion of the Month on our website, recognize them on air for a month.

 Picture provided by Brett Winter Lemon