The 2019 Butler Rotary Luncheon for Literacy raised more than $10,000 for Butler County Community College's adult literacy program. At the Nutcracker-themed table, from left, are Linda Burgoon, Sue Edwards, Denise Day and Lois Cranmer. Submitted photo

The $120 cost to take all four modules of the General Educational Development (GED) test is a barrier to people trying to earn it, according to Barb Gade, director of the adult literacy program at Butler County Community College.

The cost to attend the Luncheon for Literacy is $35, and attendees will not only dine at tables decorated around the theme of a certain book, but they will also hear from students of BC3’s adult literacy program.

Gade said she brought the idea of the literacy luncheon to the Rotary Club of Butler PM in 2018 to see if its members could find a fun way to support scholarships for students seeking their GED diploma.

“That was prohibitive for many of our clients who came to us,” Gade said of the tests’ costs. “I knew that the Rotary promoted literacy, so I reached out and said 'Hey, I have this need, would you be willing to support us?'”

This year’s Luncheon for Literacy is on April 16, returning after a two-year absence due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Millie Pinkerton, of the Rotary Club of Butler PM, said there are still around 40 seats for the luncheon open, which the club would like to fill to get ample funding to the literacy program.

“The literacy program at the college is great,” Pinkerton said.

“The premise is you pick a book and decorate your table around the book; the day of the luncheon, people go around and judge tables and put money in a jar for the table,” she said. “Everything (raised) goes to the program.”

According to Gade, the literacy program this year will serve up to 116 students. Gade also said that although the program receives state and federal funding, that money cannot be used for all student expenses.

“The reason I brought (the luncheon) back up was because we are not able to purchase scholarships under our grant money,” Gade said. “We are funded by federal and state grants for adult family literacy, and that money can be used for many things. The one thing it can't be used for is scholarships for the GED test.”

The literacy program at BC3 also used to help more students, but Gade said the COVID-19 pandemic changed the need for students to obtain GED certificates.

“Manufacturers used to say people have to have a GED (diploma) to get a job. Now, some say you don’t need it,” Gade said.

In addition to raising money through admission costs, the luncheon also raises money by donations to each table, and also basket raffles and a silent auction.

Pinkerton said the Rotary club puts a lot of effort into managing the event, but the end result is worth it. She will be decorating her table around the book “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis.

“It's really a great program; I think there are more people than we know who can't read,” Pinkerton said. “Butler's a great community. We hang in there and help each other.”

Gade, too, said the Luncheon for Literacy is a fun event thanks to the participation of many book-lovers.

“I think our community really loves to give back and we appreciate that,” Gade said. “It's a fun time where the theme is everyone picks their favorite book and decorates. It's just a really fun event.”

To reserve a seat at the Luncheon for Literacy, which takes place at 1 p.m. April 16 at Founder’s Hall on BC3’s campus, contact Vicki Denny at 724-287-8711, Ext. 8350, or at vicki.denny@bc3.edu.