SALISBURY — Wearing many hats comes naturally to the Rowan County Literacy Council. The non-profit organization, also known as RCLC, provides one-one-one tutoring to adults in basic literacy (ABE), English as a Second Language (ESL), and helps adults prepare for the GED and U.S. Citizenship exams. The council also provides youth literacy programs through a partnership with Communities in Schools-Rowan.

“We meet the students where they are and focus on the individual goals of each student,” said Laurel Harry, RCLC’s executive director.  

Last year, the literacy council tutored 168 students across all programs. Tutoring is provided by trained volunteers and RCLC staff. Last year, 65 volunteers donated over 4,000 hours to help students improve their literacy and language skills. The top nationalities of RCLC’s international students are Mexican and Ukrainian. Demand for services is at an all-time high, and some volunteers work with both youth and adult literacy to help meet the need.  

In addition to metaphorically wearing many hats, friends and members of the literacy council also literally wear many hats during the organization’s annual spring fundraiser, Kentucky Derby with Hat-i tude. The event, now in its fifth year, will be held on May 4 at the historic Hambley-Wallace House on Fulton Street. The event centers around viewing the Kentucky Derby with contests for most creative and most stylish hats. This year happens to be the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.

“We think the fabulous venue and the special race anniversary will combine to make this our best Hat-i-tude event ever,” Harry said.

The ticketed event raises money to help support RCLC’s adult and youth programs.

“We are fortunate to receive strong community support, including the backing of the Rowan United Way. This support along with events like our Hat-i-tude party help keep our programs free of charge to members of our community who need literacy services,” Harry said.  

To learn more about RCLC or the upcoming event, go to www.rcliteracy.org or call 704-216-8266. The Rowan County Literacy Council has been serving Rowan County since 1976 and is headquartered in in the main branch of the Rowan Public Library at 201 W. Fisher St.