Congratulations
to Pat Tonini!
READ/OC
Honoree for the 2014
Spirit of Volunteerism Award!
Pat Tonini has been a volunteer with READ/Orange
County, since 2008. She started out as a volunteer literacy tutor,
helping adult learners reach their reading and writing goals.
As a tutor, she is patient, supportive, and
encouraging. She shared, “My first
student was American born, middle-aged and very motivated. I saw him really blossom more and more each
year. He was brave enough to go on a
trip with a friend to Las Vegas because he was finally able to read the signs
and know where he was. He had always been too afraid to travel before.”
“My current learner is an ESL student and it is much more
difficult because he doesn’t know our culture and idioms. He works in a gas station and once a customer
asked him to “break a hundred‟ and he had no idea what that meant.” Pat has been able to help both of these
learners make great progress towards their learning goals.
As a volunteer, Pat is prompt, reliable, and involved. Since 2011, she has helped welcome new
volunteers into the program through her role as an assistant trainer. At each training,
Pat keeps things running smoothly with her efficient attention to setup, check
in, and logistics. She presents training
components with an approachable and kindly attitude. Most importantly, she is
always ready to share her extensive experience with new volunteers. Over the years, Pat has shown herself to be a
true asset to the cause of adult literacy in Orange County!
Thank you, Pat, for your commitment of supporting
lifelong learning and literacy with READ/OC.
