'On a shoestring' hardly describes our auspicious beginning. In 1985, with a $500 grant from B. Dalton Books to pay the phone bill, Vista and volunteer workers and free space from the Wilmington Baptist Association, we were off on our mission to do something about illiteracy.             — Billie S. Granger,             Founding Director

The Cape Fear Literacy Council is an independent, non-profit organization. We have a vision of a fully literate America where all adults have the skills they need.

In Program Year 2007, 428 volunteers gave 15,982 (the equivalent of almost 8 work years) hours to help 484 students achieve their goals. Why we do what we do...

An Award Winning Program:

2010 Nonprofit Organization of the Year presented by UNCW MPA Program, Southeastern North Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Public Administration (SENCASPA), and Quality Enhancement for Nonprofit Organizations (QENO)

2009 NC Student of the Year from NC Community College System

2008 Launched 'Stepping Stones' family literacy initiative.

2007 Accredited by ProLiteracy America

2006 NC Student of the Year from NC Community College System

2006 - "Race 4 Literacy" Program Award from NC Community College System

2005 Guinness World Record for "continuously reading aloud by a marathon team" for 110 hours and 4 minutes

2003 Awarded highly competitive 3-Year Intensity Grant from UPS

2002 Became a fully accredited affiliate of ProLiteracy America, the largest volunteer literacy organization in the United States.

2001 Lead Trainer, Shirley Morrow, awarded Instructor of the Year by the NC Community College System

2000 Lead Trainer, Shirley Morrow, awarded Outstanding Trainer Award, by Laubach Literacy Action

2000 Completed second phase of renovation: new roof and student study rooms

1999 CFLC Board of Directors received Non-Profit Sector Steward Award, by the NC Center for Non-Profits

1999 We paid off the mortgage!

1998 Awarded “Best Practice Program,” by the NC Governor’s Summit

1997 CFLC moves into its very own building at 1012 South 17th Street

1995 Computer Learning Lab started

1992 CFLC moves to Shipyard Boulevard in space donated by First Citizens Bank

1987 First staff members hired

1985 The Cape Fear Literacy Council becomes an independent non-profit organization

1970 The Wilmington Baptist Association starts the Wilmington Literacy Group

Why we do what we do...