Beneficiaries: JPW Learning Center
Fund: San Angelo Area Foundation Discretionary Endowment Fund

The Need:
Dr. and Mrs. Harvey Williams, Jr created the James Phillips Williams Foundation (JPW Learning Center) in memory of their son, who suffered from dyslexia.

Their desire was to provide educators and parents teaching tools so other children can be diagnosed early and alternative tutoring could begin. With the advent of new technologies and software, JPW Learning Center sought to provide new computers and new software specifically designed to help students with dyslexia. This new software called “Lexia” was expensive, and most existing computers in smaller schools today could not run the program.

The Response:
The Foundation was able to make a grant from its discretionary endowment fund to allow JPW Learning Center to purchase the software and computers. JPW Learning Center received a technology grant from Verizon Foundation for this initiative, but the San Angelo Area Foundation grant enabled the JPW Learning Center to complete the program with the purchase of eleven software licenses and computers.

Training has been completed, and all the teachers left with huge smiles knowing they had a tremendous tool to help students succeed with dyslexia.

The Future:
Eleven area schools and the JPW Learning Center now have the ability to supplement their focus on helping young people with dyslexia succeed.

From Brady to Christoval, from Veribest to Eldorado, from public schools to private schools, the future is bright due to the philanthropy and vision of the Williams Family. The Foundation will be able to support these and other worthy projects from now on, due to the gifts made to discretionary endowment funds of the Foundation.