Since 1923 the Altrusa Club of Richmond has identified and worked to eliminate many social problems in the metropolitan Richmond area. Through the initiative, resourcefulness, and knowledge of an active membership of executive and professional women, we are making a difference in our community, as our sister clubs are doing across the United States and around the world.
You have no doubt heard about the illiteracy crisis that affects 68 million Americans. Twenty years ago, Altrusa recognized this debilitating social ill. We were horrified. We investigated, did a local feasibility study, and set out to alleviate this problem. We started the Literacy Council of Metropolitan Richmond, training and matching tutors with non-readers. Today this organization, called the READ Center, is a United Way agency and receives funding from the City of Richmond as well as the counties of Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover.
We are involved in a number of projects, including adoption of Harrowgate Elementary School in Chesterfield County and Crestview Elementary School in Henrico County; the Foster Grandparents program of the Capitol Area Agency on Aging; and the YWCA's home for battered women. We also have our own scholarship for women returning to school.
As individuals, there isn't much we can do to make our community safer, our citizens smarter and happier; but banding together with other caring women, there is nothing we can't do!
Altrusa International, Inc. of Richmond, Virginia, USA
