Turning Pages SC honors Jerry Bellune with Lifetime Member Award for 25 Years of Literacy Work
April 23, 2024
Turning Pages SC, a nonprofit literacy council that teaches adults to read for free, has honored Jerry Bellune’s quarter-century commitment to literacy in central South Carolina. At 88 years of age, his persistent efforts still outpace those decades younger as he continues to impact countless families in our area.
This Lifetime Member Award, the council’s highest honor, reflects the culmination of Bellune’s lifelong contribution to the publishing world, steadfast dedication to adult literacy, and unwavering investment in the organization itself. This recognition, last awarded in 2004 to former board chair Bruce Donatelli of Lexington, underscores Bellune’s lasting legacy.
Reflecting on his journey, Bellune shared, “As a newspaper publisher, I once gave very little thought to adult illiteracy. That is, until I learned that a hard-working colleague could not read. He was afraid he would be fired once we knew. But we looked for a group to help him. That’s how I found Turning Pages. I was sad to realize adults who can’t read have to get their news on radio and TV. They could not get it from us, even though we published a great educational tool.”
A nationally recognized journalist and published author who founded the Lexington County Chronicle in 1992, Bellune has been a tenacious champion of Turning Pages SC since it was known as the Greater Columbia Literacy Council. His work as a volunteer, board member, event planner, and fundraiser the past two and a half decades have been instrumental in advancing the group’s literacy initiatives.
Lisa Cole, executive director of Turning Pages SC, expressed heartfelt appreciation for Bellune’s involvement, stating, “Jerry’s passion for literacy is truly inspiring. His wisdom, encouragement, and unwavering support have been invaluable to our organization and to me personally. We talk often and I am grateful for his mentorship.”
Know Jerry Bullune? Send him a congratulatory note via congratsjerry@turningpagessc.
About
Founded in 1968, Turning Pages SC has trained over 1,700 tutors and helped over 6,000 adults read better. Adults who reads below a 9th grade level can receive over 50 hours of free, one-on-one tutoring annually plus books.
