Mini-Grants Competition in Honor of Richard E. Fish

Richard E. Fish was a leader in the New York City adult literacy community and a cherished colleague to many. From the early 80’s when Richard worked in the Brooklyn Public Library Literacy Program and then as manager of the New York City Adult Literacy Hotline at the Literacy Assistance Center (LAC) to his tenure as the director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Adult Literacy and his twelve years as Senior Advisor at the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, Richard was guided by his passion for adult literacy and his commitment to adult learners and practitioners. 

Since Richard ‘s passing in April 2014, many have made donations to the LAC in his memory. To recognize Richard’s great contributions to the NYC adult literacy community, the board of directors and staff of the Literacy Assistance Center have decided to use these donations, as well as additional donations we hope to receive, to establish this mini-grant competition in honor of Richard E. Fish. 

Purpose of the Richard E. Fish Mini-Grants 
Small grants will be awarded to projects that result in a concrete product or deliverable that either:
  • Have potential for making a significant impact on the adult literacy community or
  • Provide a valuable new resource to a targeted group within the larger adult literacy community

Who May Apply? 
In recognition of Richard’s many years of service at the NYC Department for Youth and Community Development (DYCD), any practitioner or group of practitioners who work in an adult literacy program currently funded by the NYC DYCD may apply. 

Grant Awards & Use of Funds

  • September 30, 2014 – Deadline for submission of mini-grant proposals and additional donations.
  • All donations given in honor of Richard E. Fish prior to the deadline of September 30, 2014 will be distributed as part of this mini-grant process. Depending on the total amount of funds donated, mini-grants will be approximately $500 each.
  • Mini-grants will be awarded to support projects or completion of projects that result in a tangible resource for NYC adult literacy practitioners and students. Any topic of relevance to the adult literacy community or a critical segment of the community is acceptable. There are no other priorities, and a broad range of proposed projects are encouraged.
  • Only one application may be submitted per agency. All proposals require approval by the program director.
  • Projects must be completed by March 2015. To support dissemination of the mini-grant products and resources, the LAC will support dissemination of the results through its website and social media.
  • Applications for the LAC Mini-Grants Competition in Honor of Richard E. Fish are due by 5:00 PM on September 30, 2014.
For questions about the Richard E. Fish Mini-Grants and donations, contact Ira Yankwitt, LAC Executive Director, iray@lacnyc.org.

Participate in the Competition

Deadline for submission of mini-grant proposals and additional donations: September 30, 2014

In Memory of Richard E. Fish