History

TEN YEARS AND GROWING…
A brief history of
Project Light 1995-2005

Project Light of Manatee, Inc. is a literacy center located in its own building at 1104 14th Street in Bradenton, Florida. It is a nonprofit organization that was founded to answer the educational needs of migrants and other poor people in the area.

Sister Nora Brick, MFIC, a Franciscan nun well known in the Bradenton area, saw a need, and had a vision. She gathered people around her that she thought could make it happen. Thus Project Light was born. Three people of the original six remain with Project Light today: Sr. Georgianna, SC, Ann Griffin and Ed Griffin.

The student population has increased steadily since we opened on March 7, 1995. Project Light began in two small rooms, donated by Our Daily Bread, a local soup kitchen. There was an average of 39 students per quarter by 1999. They studied a combined total of over 2857 hours. By the end of 2004 the numbers had increased to 5215 hours of study and an average of 116 per quarter. In the first quarter of 2005 there was an average of 227 students studying for over 1400 hours.

Due to this influx of students the center was very crowded. We needed more room for the students, and for storage.

Almost any day at the center found several students studying at the computer stations, or at the front table, and several small toddlers playing around on the floor while their mothers studied. It was a happy place even though we were tripping over one another.

Because of the belief that the students deserved the best learning environment possible, a building was purchased that provides students with a better atmosphere in which to work. This building was a "diamond in the rough." But, that was actually a blessing as we could renovate to fit the specific needs of the center.

These renovations had to start with replacing the roof and re-doing the front entrance. The building had originally been an auto body shop, so large overhead doors had to be replaced with windows and regular sized doors.

After a lot of work by our staff, volunteers and contractors, the building was finally transformed into the current center.

There is a small reception area, three quiet study rooms, an office, a conference room as well as a flexible South side that is being used for Healthy Start's "Moms and Tots" program and the larger evening classes. We moved into our new building in May 2001.

The extra space has enabled the center to expand the program. Beside the daily sessions, there are evening classes three nights per week and a children's summer program.

In partnership with the Healthy Start Coalition of Manatee County, Inc. a Moms & Tots group was started in 2001.

This is a series of classes especially for pregnant Hispanic woman who want to learn more about health and nutrition for their families. Speakers are also brought in to talk about parenting, childbirth, and other topics.

The staff is completely volunteer except for a Manager/Instructor and an Evening Instructor, both part time.

There were a total of 1480 volunteer hours by 33 voluteers in 2004. The volunteers were primarily tutors. They come for one or more hours per week and work directly with the students, on a one-to-one basis whenever possible. The staff feels fortunate in having excellent tutors, many of whom are retired professionals.

We became a Collaborative Ministry of the USA Salvatorians in 2003. This means that members of all three branches of Salvatorians: Fathers and Brothers, Sisters, and Lay, support Project Light in some way, either financially or physically.

Project Light received Wooden Gavel Awards in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000 from the Golden Gavel Awards sponsored by the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

Project Light of Manatee, Inc.

Lighting the world, one mind at a time...