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| Aspire News: February 2023 |
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Aspire Begins A Busy Spring Semester of Classes The Spring semester of classes is back in action after a busy class registration month where Aspire continued to grow in our in-person locations and with students. Our East Dallas classes housed at Owenwood Farm and Neighbor Space grew, including the addition of ESL Basic I and II courses and an extra classroom of students. Read more »
To celebrate our growth as an organization, Aspire has reimagined the Toast to Literacy. This year's event will be a true celebration and opportunity to socialize, celebrate, and raise money for a wonderful cause and includes:
FOR ONLINE TICKET AND SPONSORSHIP REGISTRATION
PLEASE VISIT: https://one.bidpal.net/toasttoliteracy2023/ticketing.
 The Toast to Literacy is one of the largest funding sources for Aspire’s literacy programs and has helped change the lives of thousands of North Texas residents since it began nearly a decade ago. Aspire depends on this event to fund its programs each year, and we are working to make this event a fantastic opportunity to socialize, celebrate, and raise money for a wonderful cause!
George Pettit Macatee III, a former Aspire (Aberg Center for Literacy) volunteer, passed away in January after living a life based on family and service to others. Buddy began serving the organization due to his close relationship with Aberg founder Charles Aberg and wanted to help. He was a dedicated advocate and teacher, helping all who reached out for help to improve their lives. “Buddy” Macatee has long supported Aberg Center since its early days. A friend of founder Charles Aberg, Buddy was an immediate advocate of the non-profit and, years later, was an invaluable volunteer. Buddy continued his involvement by introducing Aberg Center to other people or organizations where he thought synergy was possible. "Buddy had a keen ability to see the bigger picture of the mission to increase literacy skills throughout north Texas and had so many ideas and relationships that proved instrumental in the growth of Aberg. All of us, including our past board members, will remember and cherish Buddy for his enthusiasm and commitment to helping those in need of better education and ultimately better lives for all our students over the years”, said Peter Aberg. Macatee, George Pettit, III known as Buddy to friends and family passed away peacefully at home, January 5, 2023. A lifelong resident of Dallas, Texas, Buddy attended Highland Park public schools until 1944; he transferred to St. John's Military Academy, graduating as Salutatorian in 1946. He received his BBA from the University of Texas/Austin in 1951, later continuing his education by earning his MLA degree at SMU in 1973. Buddy found the love of his life in Shirley Elizabeth McBride, marrying her in 1954. They settled into life in Dallas, having the first of five children in 1956. In 1958 The Dallas Times Herald selected Buddy as one of the "Leaders of Dallas". In 1962, Buddy was elected to the Texas State Legislature. Returning to Dallas after his term in office where he entered the real estate business forming development and brokerage companies. In 1981, Buddy dedicated himself to making a difference in the African-American community of Fair Park/South Dallas as an homage to the many people of color who raised him "with such genuine concern" during his formative years. Buddy partnered with a retired African American executive with IBM to stabilize neighborhoods through thoughtful management and ownership of commercial and residential properties. His successes included establishing the English Learning Center and the Jeffries Street Learning Center, the latter becoming a major beneficiary of the Crystal Charity Ball. Buddy gave of his time in many ways, in later years joining the volunteers for the Aberg Center for Literacy where he was an active teacher and fund raiser, and the Dallas Arboretum and Garden Center where he worked to facilitate major giving from his many old Dallas relationships. The Aberg Center honored Buddy at its annual Legacy of Literacy event for his efforts in making a lasting impact on literacy in North Texas. Buddy is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Shirley, his children, nine great-grandchildren, a niece and numerous nephews and cousins. Buddy is a shining example of what Aspire volunteers experience when they dedicate their time to help and share their gifts with our students. Our students come to us with their own stories, struggles, and hopes for their future. We are honored to partner with them as they strive to make the most of their lives. We are all in this together and remain grounded in our role as compassionate and purposeful caretakers of the Aspire mission.
Please consider following Aspire on our various social media platforms! By joining our social media pages, you'll have access to weekly content, updates, videos, and events. Here are some of the benefits of following us on social media:
Here's where you can find us:
We hope you'll join us on social media and become part of the Aspire community! If you have any questions or suggestions for content, feel free to reach out to us on any of our platforms.
Have you ever considered volunteering at Aspire? We are dedicated to helping adults in our community improve their reading, writing, and language skills, and we need your help to make a difference. Aspire volunteers go the extra mile by nurturing strong relationships necessary to help students gain the confidence to learn. If you have the desire to help adult learners who have made the brave choice to take charge of their own lives, then Aspire has opportunities for you. You provide the love for learning, and we provide the training! Our adult learners come from various backgrounds and have different literacy levels. Some are learning English as a second language, while others seek to improve their essential reading, writing, and math skills. We will provide training and resources to ensure you feel confident as a volunteer teacher. Volunteering with Aspire is also a great way to connect with your community and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students. We have a dedicated team of volunteers passionate about helping others, and we welcome new members to join our team. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to make a positive impact in our North Texas community. |
Important Dates • 03-01-2023 • 03-02-2023 • 03-12-2023 • 04-13-2023 • 05-11-2023
Help Aspire serve more students by making a tax-deductible donation today.
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