Congratulations to Jordan Grabelle, 2021 Freedom Medal Award Winner.
Presented by Commissioner Deputy Director Edward McDonnell.
Jordan Grabelle, a sixteen-year-old resident of Voorhees, works to equalize the educational playing field by promoting childhood literacy in at-risk communities. She founded “Love Letters for Literacy,” a program providing families with handmade literacy packets, at just age ten.
While volunteering as a child at literacy events in underserved communities, Jordan was alarmed to see children reading far below grade level. Jordan set out to close this gap by launching a service project. Over six years later, Love Letters for Literacy is now an impactful nonprofit that promotes childhood literacy worldwide.
Through Jordan’s work as Executive Director, she has inspired a grassroots movement with 16,500+ volunteers of all ages donating literacy packets to 33,000+ at-risk children spanning all 50 states and 26 countries. Before COVID-19, Jordan and other volunteers would visit preschool classrooms, stirring excitement about learning the alphabet. Since COVID-19, thousands more have volunteered, connecting virtually to socialize while making packets.
Jordan’s honors include the New Jersey Governor’s Jefferson Award for Public Service for Youth in Service and a Citation of Outstanding Community Service from the Camden County Workforce Board on Literacy. Jordan believes everyone has a responsibility to work toward bettering their communities.
To learn more about Love Letters for Literacy and how you can help, visit: https://lovelettersliteracy.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/LoveLettersLiteracyProject/
Click here to see other 2021 Freedom Medal Award Winners
