There are two notable annual national fund-raising initiatives: CanWest Global “Raise- a-Reader” campaign and the Peter Gzowski Invitational (or PGI, as it is commonly referred to).
The Canwest Global “Raise-a-Reader” campaign distributes funding in all provinces and territories to organizations that provide family literacy initiatives. Since 2002, the program has raised and distributed over ten million dollars.
Since its inception in the late 1980s, the Peter Gzowski Invitational (or PGI, as it is commonly referred to) is one of the most successful literacy fundraising events in Canada. Over the years it has generated more than $10 million. A PGI is held in every province and territory.
In addition to the work done by agencies and organizations that have adult literacy as their main focus, other organizations provide programs and services that are called family literacy. This includes community service clubs (e.g., The Lions Club) and non- profit organizations. In most of these cases, however, the main focus of these programs and services is on the child. One example of this type of programming would be a “parents and tots” reading circle provided by volunteers from a service club at a community centre.
It is important to note that often, when non-adult literacy organizations direct programs or services towards adults, the focus is not necessarily on the improvement of the adults’ literacy skills. Rather, the focus is on their parenting skills. An assessment of skills is probably not done prior to the parents’ participation in the parenting skills workshop. If staff providing the parenting skills workshop note that an adult’s communications are not adequate it is possible that person is referred to a local literacy program. More research needs to be done in this area.
Most organizations that provide direct service to adult literacy learners do use a learner centred, goal-directed approach – especially when the adult learner has very low literacy skills. While there is no evidence that “standardized” curriculum for family literacy programming is used, many of the family literacy models or methods provide training on how to use the approach. See the program descriptions in the section on the types of programs available.