West Stockbridge — On Friday, September 20, close to 160 people gathered to celebrate the mission of the Literacy Network (LitNet)—a small, Lee-based nonprofit organization with the mission of transforming the lives of adult learners, both immigrant and U.S.-born, through literacy, education, and advocacy. The theme for the evening was “A Celebration of Friends,” and the title held true as donors who support the organization mingled with board members; staff; volunteer tutors; many of the organization’s immigrant learners; and representatives from other local organizations like Volunteers in Medicine, Latinas413, Multicultural BRIDGE, and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.
Held at Amici in West Stockbridge, both inside the restaurant and outside on the restaurant’s expansive patio, the Italian-themed night offered signature cocktails (Aperol Spritz and the Godfather), beer, wine, an extensive charcuterie board, and signature pasta dishes.
A series of speeches got underway at 7:30 p.m. On the patio, LitNet Executive Director Leigh Doherty called the crowd together to introduce the guest speakers. English language learner Carlos Sanchez and his tutor, David Goldenberg, took to the table first, followed by citizenship learner Vania Lillie and her tutor, Pamela Breslin, who is also a LitNet Board member.
Sanchez, who is originally from Venezuela, thanked Goldenberg for his time and patience as a tutor, referring to him as a “nice human.” Goldenberg shared a litany of successes he had witnessed Sanchez experience over their year of working together. The first, which got laughter from the crowd, was teaching Sanchez the very basics at their first session to get him through the Berkshire winter: “hat, coat, gloves, boots.” Goldenberg recounted how, the next week, Sanchez showed up in a neon yellow parka, signaling Goldenberg’s first success as a tutor. From there, Goldenberg talked about Sanchez finishing his first book in English (a biography of George Washington), receiving promotions and more responsibility at work because of his improved English skills, to finally getting his driver’s license.
Lillie, who had worked towards her citizenship with Breslin during the height of COVID, shared her story of coming from Brazil after her high school-aged son had immigrated. She first fell in love with the U.S. and then fell in love with her husband and knew she wanted to stay. “I learned about LitNet and then about the Keator Scholarship, and I knew I needed the help,” she recounted. She joined LitNet in January 2021 as a Hannah and Matthew Keator Scholarship for New Americans recipient. “Everywhere, the rest of the world was closed down,” Lillie said, “But LitNet never stopped.” She said of Breslin, who leads LitNet’s Keator Scholarship Program, “She is sweet, patient, and a wonderful teacher. Pamela made it so easy for me to learn the citizenship questions. I didn’t speak English much back then, but she encouraged me and helped me to get there, to my citizenship.” Then, turning to Breslin, she said in a cracking voice, “I’m very grateful and thankful for you in my life.”
Breslin, who has served on the LitNet Board for seven years and served as a LitNet tutor for 19, said, “The woman next to me, Vania, is a powerhouse.” She called Vania “unflappably cheerful and optimistic” and “as hardworking as she is fun-loving.” She added, “I’m really proud to belong to LitNet. I really believe in the mission, and in all seriousness, I do believe we transform lives through advocacy, education, and literacy.”
Next, LitNet Board President Merle Kailas introduced the evening’s honoree, John Toole. For 44 years, Toole has maintained and grown his family business as president of Toole Insurance Agency (now Acrisure). He has served on the board of many Berkshire organizations and has coached youth sports. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Literacy Network.
Toole began his speech by saying that when he had been invited to be the event’s honoree, he had initially declined. “There are people who’ve done so much more than me. No thanks,” he said. But eventually came around because, he said, “I had a blinding flash of the obvious. And that is that tonight isn’t about me—it’s about LitNet. It’s about the work that LitNet does, the incredible work this little team does. The results are just incredible.” He shared that the organization had served 284 people so far this year, that it had 153 volunteer tutors, and that since LitNet started serving learners based in Pittsfield, the numbers had dramatically increased. He said he was sure people in the crowd knew someone who had gone through LitNet’s program and pointed out how many go on to be successful, citing the evening’s host, Amici co-owner Octavio Nallin—a Brazilian immigrant who learned English with LitNet and is now a Keator Scholarship recipient.
Toole also talked about how he was able to accept the honor because of his own “difficult relationship with the English language” and how working with a tutor had changed his life. Upon taking an entrance test to get into high school, Toole learned he was dyslexic. It explained a lot of things, he said. He had stayed back in school. He had never read a book up until that point. He had struggled and wondered why he couldn’t keep up. In a remedial reading class in high school, John met a tutor who would go on to become a mentor and good friend throughout his life. Toole and his tutor did skills and assessments, and within six months the dyslexia was reversed; he read his first book that year.
Toole ended his speech with a plea for people to give generously, setting the stage for the paddle raise.
Colin Mathews, a LitNet tutor and founder and president of Merit Pages (an online platform that recognizes and promotes student achievements), who also volunteers to be master of ceremony at nonprofit fundraisers, led the crowd in an energetic paddle raise. After about 15 minutes, LitNet had exceeded its fundraising goal for the evening.
“Our event surpassed our hopes!” says LitNet Executive Director Doherty. “From the amazing Berkshire weather to the beauty and capacity of the setting. From the graciousness and professionalism of our hosts and the warmth and generous spirit of our guests who truly showed up to share their love and support of LitNet. It was just a fabulous night all around.”
“The evening was galvanizing,” says Board President Kailas. “Especially witnessing LitNet’s tremendous impact by hearing first hand from Carlos, David, Pamela, and Vania. The celebration was filled with fun, laughter, and, most importantly, a strong sense of community. The energy in the house was palpable. It was so ‘LitNet’: party, community, so much love in the room—for each other and for LitNet!”
Since 1991, LitNet has provided free, one-on-one, individualized tutoring in English for speakers of other languages, High School Equivalency, and general educational support for adults. In 2019, it launched the Hannah and Matthew Keator Scholarship for New Americans—a scholarship that helps eligible immigrants cover fees related to citizenship application. In 2023, LitNet added a new program: support to first-generation college hopefuls and their families, including bilingual FAFSA support and college-application-essay guidance. To learn more, visit LitNet’s website.
