CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas —
Every year, the Charity League of Corpus Christi raises funds and then reviews dozens of applications from Coastal Bend non-profits looking for a piece of the pie.
The goal is to give that money to just one group whose mission is to support and enhance the Coastal Bend.
The group selected by the Charity League is the Corpus Christi Literacy Council (CCLC).
The Literacy Council helps over 300 students annually and offers 20 different classes to those who want to learn to read and write in English or take basic adult education classes, and it's all free.
The president of the Charity League tells 3NEWS that, of the applications they received, the Literacy Council’s was one that stood out this year.
When reviewing the Literacy Council's application, it was clear that the amount of good they did was evident. The issue of illiteracy in the Coastal Bend is significant, and everything they're doing to combat that is a worthwhile project and we wanted to come alongside them and help them."
Executive director, Dr. Criselda Leal, said the funds they're receiving from the charity league will help continue the literacy council's mission of providing every adult who wants to learn English a chance to do so.
That includes purchasing updated tools for underserved students' learning.
“Everyone has a heart of gold here, and we're here to help them,” Leal said. "We want to keep up to the 21st century standards, and so one of the things has to do with the technology equipment for computers for teachers, students, some of the volunteers."
These tools could help more people like Ana Villagomez, who became an American citizen last year after immigrating to the U.S. from Mexico 14 years ago.
"I needed to do more for myself and learn more because my situation in Mexico was little rough. I thank God. He brought me here to the states,” Villagomez said.
Thanks to CCLC, she will soon graduate with her GED, and is already on the path to starting her college degree in social work.
Villagomez said these are opportunities that would've never been possible without the guidance she received from the literacy council.
"I have met so many beautiful people, so many beautiful teachers. It has opened so many doors. I always tell people, 'If you need a little bit of help learning English, at least properly, come here,” she said. "This place is a treasure, a hidden treasure, because they help you in every way."