LHP’s Employee Spotlight is shining on Lara Lundy, Due Diligence Coordinator, who shares her passion for reading with others through her support and volunteerism with Friends of Literacy (FOL) of Knoxville. Lara currently serves on the board of directors and has been a volunteer with the organization since 2019.
She connected with FOL after completing the Alliance for Better Nonprofits’ OnBoard Governance Certificate program. The six-session course prepares high-potential professionals for service on nonprofit boards and students are given recommendations for organizations best suited for them based on their interests. Friends of Literacy was a perfect match for Lara.
“I have always been a voracious reader,” Lara says, adding that the ability to read is a powerful skill. “People who have better reading skills in early elementary school are higher achievers lifelong and that’s important.”
Right away she started volunteering as a tutor for FOL, working one-on-one with adults learning how to read. Soon after she was invited to join the programming committee and then to serve on the board of directors. She is currently a board member and member of FOL’s event committee.
She’s proud of how the organization weathered COVID-19 when everything changed on a dime and staff had to transition from in-person to virtual classroom instruction. The fact that the organization is still thriving comes from having “excellent leadership on staff and at the board level.” Lara’s also proud that FOL now offers programs for children. In the past the organization was strictly dedicated to teaching adults to read and helping them to achieve their Graduate Equivalency Degree (GED).
“The children’s programs are all new and that’s really exciting,” Lara says. “Reading is something that brings me a lot of joy and if I can share that with other people, than that makes me happy.”
LHP is pleased to shine the spotlight on Lara Lundy. We appreciate all that you do each day to make our communities healthier and happier places to live.
