Vita Education Services Bringing Learning to Life for Over 50 Years | | From left, Heather Giampapa, Vita Executive Director; Dana Barber, Chief Executive Officer, Bucks County Free Library; Ceil Hedrick, Collection Management Manager; Mark Conner, Collection Management Coordinator; Patty Dawson, Chief Information Officer; Karina Wegelius, Vita ESL Program Director. | | Vita is grateful to our long-time community partner, Bucks County Free Library (BCFL), for its continued support of our Family Literacy Program. Thanks to a generous annual donation from BCFL, Vita is able to purchase beautiful and engaging children’s books that families can take home and enjoy together. | |
| | Using BCFL books, parents in Vita’s Bristol and Warminster Family Literacy classes are introduced to reading strategies they can implement at home with their children, along with age-appropriate questions to ask and follow-up activities. Parents are encouraged to take pictures of at-home activities to share with the class. | | Warminster Family Literacy Instructor, Iryna Yefimenko (left) and Chilcare and Teacher Assistant, Maritza Aucay. | | Chrildren from Bristol Family Literacy class. | | Bristol Family Literacy Instructors, Lisa Sheehy (left) and Tina Ruckh. | | |
Best of all, the BCFL books are gifted to families, enabling them to build their very own home libraries, something that many of them can’t afford to do on their own. In just one program year, families can accumulate up to 10 different books they can enjoy at any time.
Our thanks to BCFL for recognizing the importance of parents and children reading together in creating eager readers of all ages!
| |
| Bucks County Correctional Facilities Volunteer Appreciation Dinner | | |
The evening of September 9 saw the Bucks County Correctional Facilities recognize its many volunteers for the vital work they do to facilitate rehabilitation with a personal touch at a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. Vita was represented by Jobs Readiness Program volunteers Scott Drinnan and Dennis (on the left in the photo), who participate in mock interviews to help men and women in the Correctional Facilities develop post-incarceration employment action plans; Executive Director Heather Giampapa (middle); Instructor Emily Thomas (2nd from right), who teaches GED Preparation classes at the men and women's facilities and Decisions programming at the Bucks County Youth Center; and Vita Board Member Jonathan Lewis (far right).
Volunteers have always been integral to the success of Vita's corrections-based programs. The organization was founded by volunteers working with individuals on probation and parole to help break the cycle of recidivism, and that program grew into Decisions for Change, which is still offered to that population. Decisions for Living is offered to men and women in the Bucks County Correctional Facilities, and Decisions for Teens at the Bucks County Youth Center.
Today, we're grateful to Vita's committed and enthusiastic Jobs Readiness volunteers who participate in mock interviews and provide resume writing services that help men and women prepare to find employment upon release.
| | Official Proclamation: Recognizing the Importance of Adult Education | | Remembering Ed Moore, Vita Volunteer | | |
Vita would like to honor and remember George Edward Moore, a dedicated Vita volunteer for 44 years. Ed passed away on September 13, 2025.
Ed began volunteering with Vita in 1981 and was willing and interested in assisting the organization however he could. During his 44 years with Vita, Ed volunteered with both the Literacy and Cognitive Skills programs, represented Vita in press interviews, helped out at fundraisers, and took on assorted office projects.
Ed made a huge impact teaching Vita’s Decisions for Living course in the Bucks County jail. As a Decisions volunteer, Ed was paired with over 250 incarcerated men for one-to-one matches. Each match required weekly visits for several months at a time. It wasn’t unusual for Ed to be assigned the most difficult clients – he was the epitome of a tough, loving uncle; engaged and caring, but never a pushover. Clients eagerly looked forward to Ed’s next visit.
Ed truly believed that every single person was unique, important, and irreplaceable. And certainly, so was he.
| | |
Vita greatly values the contributions of volunteers like Ed. The dedication of our volunteers allows us to expand our services, reaching more students and clients each year.
If you feel inspired to make a positive impact in the lives of those Vita works with, we invite you to click the button below for more information.
| | For this month’s Vita Vibes, we’re celebrating Vita Board Member Jonathan Lewis, who was named Volunteer of the Year at the Bucks County Correctional Facilities’ Volunteer Appreciation Dinner! | | |
As Executive Director of Life Abundant, Inc., a nonprofit that aims to reduce recidivism by teaching faith-based education while mentoring inmates with compassion, Jonathan has benefited hundreds of incarcerated individuals in Bucks County. Of his work at Life Abundant, Inc., Jonathan says, "We believe that lives can be transformed through compassion and empowerment and strive to encourage those impacted by incarceration to find hope and restoration.”
We’re grateful that Jonathan has chosen to serve as a Vita Board member, helping to guide the organization. Jonathan joined the board out of a desire to help advance Vita’s mission. Asked why he feels strongly about serving on Vita's Board, Jonathan says, “I believe education can help people develop the skills needed to become more self-determining and self-sufficient."
Thank you, Jonathan, and congratulations!
| | | | |
