Verizon, Alu Like form literacy force

Advertiser Staff

Officials from Verizon Communications and social services agency Alu Like Inc. yesterday announced the formation of a new literacy initiative, Hawai'i Reads, to promote intergenerational reading and support cooperation among literacy agencies and their programs.

According to the National Adult Literacy Survey, nearly 92 million adults in the United States have very low or low literacy rates.

A 1989 survey by the Governor's Council for Literacy revealed that about 20 percent of Hawai'i's adult population had reading skills below the level required to earn a living wage — the latest data available locally.

Co-chairs of Hawai'i Reads are Vicky Cayetano and Verizon Hawai'i President Warren Haruki.

The Verizon Foundation recently provided Alu Like with a $75,000 grant as start-up money for Hawai'i Reads. Also, more than $36,000 was collected by Verizon Reads, a program that allows Verizon customers to check off a contribution of $1 monthly on their telephone bills. The company has pledged more support later this year.

Hawai'i Reads will be managed by Susan Berg from the office of the Native Hawaiian Library, a unit of Alu Like.