We’re thrilled to share some exciting news — effective immediately, Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County is now Literacy Volunteers Capital Region (LVCR).

This new name better reflects the communities we proudly serve: Rensselaer, Albany, and Schenectady Counties. While our mission hasn’t changed, our growing footprint in the Capital Region calls for a name that embraces all of the learners, tutors, and supporters who are part of our expanding circle.

To celebrate and energize this next chapter, the Bender Family Foundation has stepped forward with a generous 2-to-1 Challenge Match to encourage support in Albany County. Every new donation from an Albany County donor will be matched with two additional dollars, tripling the impact of each gift — up to $15,000! That means your $100 donation becomes $300 to support adult literacy in your community. This is an extraordinary opportunity to build momentum and deepen our reach across Albany County.

In Schenectady County, we’re excited to announce support from the Schenectady Foundation, whose grant has helped us hire two part-time staff members. One is focused on fundraising, and the other on tutor recruitment and training. Thanks to this support, we’re already connecting with referral partners like Schenectady Connects, the Department of Labor, and the Rotterdam Community Center to reach adults in need of literacy services. Many of these adults are native English speakers from places like Guyana and Jamaica, while others are English Language Learners (ELLs) who do not thrive in traditional classroom settings. At LVCR, we offer a more personal approach through one-on-one tutoring and small group instruction — at no cost to the learner.

In Rensselaer County, the Rubin Community Fellows Program is supporting a creative marketing effort to help us reach even more adults who need help with reading, writing, and speaking English. With this funding, we’re strengthening our marketing and outreach to ensure that no adult is left behind due to limited literacy skills.

This is a transformational moment for our organization. With a new name, expanded services, and the strong backing of community foundations and generous donors, we’re more ready than ever to meet the literacy needs of our neighbors across the Capital Region.

We invite you to be part of this journey. Donate today, share our story, volunteer as a tutor, or help us spread the word to someone who might benefit from our services. Together, we can empower more adults with the skills they need to succeed in life, work, and community.

To make a donation that qualifies for the Bender Family 2-to-1 Challenge Match, visit www.lvcapreg.org.

Let’s write the next chapter in Capital Region literacy — together.