“We should think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into a benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.” -John F. Kennedy
Meet two remarkable children: eight-year-old Oscar always loved math and being able to understand the world through facts and sums. But the things that he didn’t understand were holding him back, including why his parents had to work such long hours, thereby unavailable to help him with his homework, and why the other children in his class understood concepts that he just couldn’t grasp. When Oscar and his mother came to ACLAMO, Oscar was two grade levels behind in reading and math.
As a 5th grader,
Maritza didn't like school, struggling for her "C" average. She began attending the ACLAMO after-school program with few expectations.
Oscar and Maritza’s cases are not uncommon. The Latino community in Montgomery County still faces a critical shortage of services needed to help overcome difficult economic, health, educational and other challenges. But that’s why ACLAMO was begun by community volunteers 35 years ago.
Just one year after joining ACLAMO’s After-School Program, Oscar received his first “A” in math class, and his grades continue to improve. Likewise, 12-year-old Maritza is now also an "A" student at the eighth grade of her middle school. She credits the one-on-one support during her past two years in the ACLAMO program for her turn-around, especially the homework help from college-student mentors. These are just two of the many ACLAMO success stories.
Since 1977, ACLAMO Family Centers has been in the forefront of supporting low-income families in Montgomery County. Today, ACLAMO is still the only countywide organization providing comprehensive services for Spanish-speaking residents including health access, family literacy, after-school and summer learning, home and school counseling, ESL, adult education and computer literacy, community health programs, and cultural events.
Unfortunately, the needs of the Hispanic community are increasing, even as funding is decreasing. These realities threaten our ability to address the real needs of children and families. By providing vital programs and services, ACLAMO helps to alleviate poverty and promote economic self-sufficiency. With your help, we can ensure that our children and families have the educational foundation and work force skills they need to succeed, and be productive members of our community.
Become a member of AMIGOS DE ACLAMO today, and keep our Family Centers alive and thriving! Your monthly or quarterly pledge of pennies a day helps to sustain our programs with confidence.
Visit the ACLAMO website today
www.aclamo.org or enroll directly at our
AMIGOS DE ACLAMO link: Become a Friend. Your support will ensure that hundreds of children like Oscar and Maritza receive the help they need to succeed.
All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. The official registration and financial information of (organization) may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
