Phillips Fundamental Learning Center Seeks Final Donations for New Teaching Facility
Nonprofit Nears End of Fundraising Campaign For Dedicated Space For Children With Dyslexia
Wichita, Kan. – March 8, 2021 – Wichita students who struggle with reading, writing and spelling will soon have a dedicated space to feel safe and inspired to learn, pending funding for a new capital campaign.
Fundamental Learning Center (FLC) a 501(c)(3), educational not-for-profit that provides research-based programs for children with significant reading, spelling and writing difficulties plans to break ground on its new state-of-the-art teaching laboratory school later this year. The building will contain multiple wings that will house the Andeel Teacher Literacy Institute, the Darrel and Dee Rolph Literacy Academy, administrative offices, a courtyard, and an outdoor terrace for educators.
In January 2020, J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation awarded FLC a $2 million challenge grant to support construction on the facility, its parking lot and grounds. In order to achieve its $20 million total fundraising goal, FLC is seeking additional donations from other Wichita businesses and the general public. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to donate online at funlearn.org/transforming-education-donate.
“We’re honored to have received many generous donations from our community, and we’re well on our way to achieving our fundraising goals, but we’re not there yet,” said Jeanine Phillips, Fundamental Learning Center Executive Director and Co-Founder.
To increase support for the new building, FLC is also hosting a competition inviting individuals to take pictures with its two #flcwhatsnext billboards available throughout Wichita: one near Central Avenue and Rock Road and another near Central Avenue and Woodlawn Street. Anyone who posts the selfies to their social media channels (and tags Fundamental Learning Center) using the hashtag will be entered to win entered to win a weekly drawing for some FLC swag and a gift certificate to Jersey Mike’s Subs.
The #flcwhatsnext hashtag is part of an ongoing initiative to help raise awareness for Fundamental Learning Center, its mission and vision. FLC’s programs are designed to help classroom educators and leaders teach children with dyslexia how to read, write and spell through research-validated literacy instructions, including distance-learning opportunities. By sharing the hashtag, individuals will be taking part in an even larger discussion around the radical changes needed to transform education.
“Fundamental Learning Center is on a mission to create a space that empowers all children, especially those with dyslexia, to read, write, and spell,” said Phillips. “Our new building will not only help reinforce our position as a national and global leader for dyslexia education, but it will also serve as a platform for launching the radical changes needed to transform education. The #flcwhatsnext hashtag is a symbol of that initiative.”
About Dyslexia
Reading is basic and critical, but the process of learning to read isn’t the same for everyone: one in five children struggles to read. Dyslexia, the most common reading disorder, can significantly hinder reading, writing, spelling, speaking, the development of vocabulary, and the understanding of spoken language. Dyslexia is also hereditary, so this challenge will never go away. At the same time, those with dyslexia can be highly creative and innovative; in fact, dyslexia can be viewed as a “super power.”
About Fundamental Learning Center
Fundamental Learning Center (FLC) is a 501(c)3, educational not-for-profit that provides research-based programs for children with significant reading, spelling and writing difficulties. Since its inception in 2001, FLC has screened more than 3,000 students for dyslexia, a common reading disorder that significantly hinders writing, spelling, speaking and vocabulary development. FLC’s programs, which are offered through the Andeel Teacher Literacy Institute and the Darrel and Dee Rolph Literacy Academy, aim to address this issue by providing research-validated literacy instruction for classroom educators and leaders. Through its work training teachers, certified academic language therapists, reading specialists and tutors, FLC has helped more than 200,000 Kansas children learn how to read, write and spell. In addition, FLC has helped raise awareness for dyslexia within a state that traditionally refused to identify or address the literacy needs of children who are dyslexic. At long last, there is true hope for children with dyslexia. To learn more, visit transformingfunlearn.com.
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