First Literacy to Honor Margarheeta Wise of MFS for Supporting Adult Literacy for Over a Decade
BOSTON, MA – On Thursday, March 26, at First Literacy’s 36th annual Spelling Bee, Margarheeta Wise, President of MFS Service Center, will receive the “First Literacy Champion Award”. This award is being given in gratitude to Wise, a longtime supporter of First Literacy and its work supporting adult literacy.
Wise first became involved with First Literacy in 2012 when MFS formed a spelling team to participate in the annual Spelling Bee fundraiser.
“I was introduced to First Literacy through two industry colleagues who were on the First Literacy board—it was a great fit from the beginning,” said Wise. “MFS, as the firm that created the first mutual fund in the US, has always believed in helping to grow financial literacy. The idea that we could make a difference for adults who were looking to change their lives and positively impact their families’ lives with a fundamental opportunity was easy to embrace. Just as the mutual fund democratized investing, financial literacy helps all to take greater control of their personal finances for their long-term benefit.”
Wise has also served on the Spelling Bee Host Committee for the last ten years and spearheaded the creation of an MFS pre-bee party, where the team practices spelling some words and gears up for the competition.
“The team at MFS enjoys being part of the spelling bee and feels it’s a great way to give back to our community,” said Wise. “We look forward to it every year, especially being able to participate in-person at the event, making it more tangible for our team to see the difference they make firsthand.”
This is the fifteenth year that MFS will sponsor the Annual Spelling Bee. During this time MFS has contributed over $65,000 to First Literacy.
“Rheeta has been championing First Literacy’s work and supporting adult literacy for over a decade,” said Terry Witherell, Executive Director. “As a longtime member of our Spelling Bee Host Committee, Rheeta has also played a key role in planning and promoting our signature fundraiser. We are thankful for Rheeta’s dedication and support.”
The National Center for Education Statistics recently reported that the number of adults in the U.S. who rank at the lowest levels of literacy has risen since 2017, from 19% to 28%.
Often overlooked, adult literacy is a persistent issue that impacts entire communities. Adult literacy can change everything – from earning potential, to a child’s academic success, to recidivism rates. It is estimated that bringing all adults to a sixth-grade reading level would generate $2.2 trillion for the U.S. economy.
First Literacy envisions a world in which all adults are able to reach their full potential. Since First Literacy was established in 1989, over 50,000 adults have improved their lives through the power of education, and more than $6 million has been allocated to support teachers and innovative literacy programs. First Literacy’s impact is far-reaching and life changing.