WHEREAS, BEACON for Adult Literacy, a secular ministry of the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia located in Bristow, has helped adults achieve their educational and language goals for 30 years; and

WHEREAS, BEACON for Adult Literacy was established in 1992 by Sister Eileen Heaps, a passionate educator and advocate for people in need, who began tutoring a small group of illiterate adults in a wing of the Saint Benedict Monastery; and

WHEREAS, BEACON for Adult Literacy currently serves hundreds of immigrant adult learners annually with the hard work and support of more than 60 volunteers in several locations in Prince William County and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park; and

WHEREAS, BEACON for Adult Literacy offers a wide range of services from English as a second language courses to programs related to workforce development, technology skills, United States citizenship exam preparation, and life skills; and

WHEREAS, among many awards and accolades, BEACON for Adult Literacy has received the Top Community Based Literacy Organization Award from the Department of Education, the Jeannie P. Baliles Award from the Virginia Literacy Foundation, and the Agnes L. Colgan Community Service Award from the Prince William County Chamber of Commerce; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That BEACON for Adult Literacy hereby be commended on the occasion of its 30th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to BEACON for Adult Literacy as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's admiration for the organization's work to promote literacy and education in Northern Virginia.