ACLAMO receives $2,500 grant from TD Bank

When Geoff Brandon was a child growing up in Norristown, he would go to the stately bank on West Marshall Street with his parents, who had a safety deposit box there. Brandon, now TD Bank Regional Vice President for Montgomery County, returned on Thursday, Feb. 3, with a $2,500 check. He wasn't there to deposit it, but to give it to Family Centers on behalf of the TD Charitable Foundation according to a release issued by ACLAMO.

“TD Bank is committed to supporting the community where our customers and our employees live and work,” said Brandon, after showing ACLAMO’s preschool class of 20 children an enormous version of the check. “ACLAMO is a shining example of how corporate giving can positively impact the community.”

Accompanying Brandon were David Groves, TD Bank King of Prussia branch manager and vice president, and Patrick Owens, TD Bank Blue Bell branch manager. They toured the former bank building, which now serves as ACLAMO’s community center, and saw first-hand the programs the grant will help support.

“We are so grateful for TD Bank’s support,” said Juan Guerra, ACLAMO's executive director.

The grant from TD Bank will help fund ACLAMO’s “Family Literacy Program,” which each year serves 20 Spanish-speaking preschoolers and their mothers at ACLAMO’s Norristown center. While the mothers are studying English as a Second Language (ESL) and computer and parenting skills on the first floor, the 3- and 4-year old children are upstairs learning letters, numbers, colors, shapes and other skills to prepare them for success in kindergarten. Each family receives monthly home visits from a dedicated social worker who assesses each student’s progress in learning, as well as the safety of their home environment. ACLAMO also provides the families a broad range of bilingual social services and access to health and dental screenings.

ACLAMO has been operating the program since 2001 and the Pennsylvania Department of Education has ranked its performance No. 2 among all “Even Start” family literacy programs in the state. Classes meet Monday through Thursday, 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. each week during the school year and three mornings a week for six weeks in the summer.

ACLAMO celebrates its 34th year of providing economic, educational, health and cultural opportunities for low-income residents of Montgomery County, especially those of Spanish-speaking heritage living in Norristown and Pottstown. ACLAMO stands for Accíon Comunal Latino Americana de Montgomery County. Learn more at aclamo.org and at facebook.com/aclamo.