Florida Literacy Awards and Grantees Honored at 41st Annual Florida Literacy Conference

MAITLAND, Fla. - May 23, 2025 - PRLog -- The Florida Literacy Coalition (FLC) hosted its 41st Annual Florida Literacy Conference from May 13-15 at The Shores Resort in Daytona Beach, bringing together adult education, literacy, and ESOL practitioners to network and share promising practices. The three-day statewide conference provided over 60 training and professional development sessions for adult education and literacy tutors, students, teachers, and program administrators.

Cameron Mattingly, Director of Community and Stakeholder Partners at the Coca-Cola Company, was the opening keynote speaker sharing his journey of resilience and the importance of advocating for learners' individual needs, encouraging everyone to celebrate their own and others' accomplishments.

In partnership with the Florida Blue Foundation, 14 Florida organizations were awarded $5,000 grants in support of local integrated health literacy programs under the Florida Health Literacy Initiative.

The 2025 Adult Learner Essay book, Perspectives, was unveiled during the FLC's Annual Meeting accompanied by some of the published student authors who read their inspiring stories aloud. The essay book comprises over 350 essays written by adults in various education programs throughout the state and is one of FLC's most popular projects.

Florida Literacy Awards

The 41st annual conference concluded with the Florida Literacy Awards Luncheon to recognize and honor five outstanding individuals and organizations for their contributions to local literacy programs in the Sunshine State. Tiffany Vause, Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Florida Ready to Work program, gave the closing luncheon and awards ceremony keynote speech.

This year's Florida Literacy Award recipients include the following:

1. Excellence in Education Award – Osceola Library System (Kissimmee, FL)

Honors an organization demonstrating achievement, innovation, leadership, or organizational excellence in support of adult basic education, literacy, and/or family literacy education in Florida. This award was accompanied by a contribution of $1,000, sponsored by NorthWest Federal Credit Union.

2. Flight for Freedom Award – Dothy Naissance, Atlantic Technical College (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

Honors an adult student who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishment in improvement of literacy or leadership skills. This award was accompanied by two complimentary round-trip airline tickets from Southwest Airlines.

3. Mary J. Brogan Leadership Award – Joseph P. Cinney, Learn to Read of St. Johns County, Inc. (St. Augustine, FL)

Recognizes a Florida resident whose support of literacy exhibits the highest standards of excellence, dedication, leadership, creativity, and accomplishment.

4. Outstanding Community Partner Award – YMCA of South Palm Beach County: DeVos-Blum Family YMCA (Lake Worth, FL)

Honors a community or business partner for leadership or significant contributions in support of literacy at the local, regional, or state level.

5. Outstanding Literacy Volunteer Award – Deborah Bruning, Literacy Alliance of Northeast Florida (Jacksonville, Florida)

Honors a literacy volunteer who has demonstrated exceptional service and commitment in either tutoring or program operations.

For additional information about individual award recipients, please contact Greg Smith at smithg@floridaliteracy.org.

Sponsors

FLC thanks the following conference sponsors for their generosity in helping to make this event possible: Platinum level - Florida Department of Education, Southwest Airlines, Florida Blue, Publix Super Markets Charities. Gold level – Kislak Family Foundation, Ellii, Wells Fargo, Dollar General Literacy Foundation. Silver level - Essential Education. Bronze level – Intercambio Uniting Communities.

About the Florida Literacy Coalition

Established in 1985, The Florida Literacy Coalition (FLC) promotes, supports, and advocates for the effective delivery of quality adult and family literacy services in Florida. As a statewide umbrella literacy organization and the host of Florida's State Literacy Resource Center, FLC provides a range of services to support more than 300 adult education, literacy, and family literacy providers throughout Florida. Special emphasis is placed on assisting community-based literacy organizations with their training and program development needs. For more information about FLC call (407) 246-7110 or visit www.floridaliteracy.org.