Meet Leo and Mara!
ABOUT LEO: For almost five years, I have been working for USA Scientific Inc. as the International Sales Manager out of their headquarters here in the great city of Ocala. Although I was born in Connecticut, I grew up on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico where I obtained my bachelor’s in Biology-Biomedical Science at the University of Puerto Rico in Aguadilla. Later, I moved to New Jersey to pursue a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Rutgers University. Before joining the USA Scientific family, I was conducting studies in Hantaviruses at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville where I had the opportunity to carry out field studies in the Mbaracayú Forest Nature Reserve in Paraguay.
After participating last year in the Kiss the Horse challenge and earning fourth place and the honor of being the candidate with the largest number of unique donors, I have recruited people to join me to win this year’s challenge, and I hope we all enjoy the fun and this great cause. The Marion County Literacy Council continues to have a positive impact in our communities in need in Ocala, and this makes me very happy and proud to participate in this event.
ABOUT MARA: I have been working for USA Scientific, Inc. collectively for almost 14 years. I began my journey at USA Scientific as a Customer Service Rep, then moved on to building our Technical Support department which includes pipette repair and calibration. From there, I currently hold the role of the e365 CRM Specialist. I have been passionate about what USA Scientific, Inc. stands for and the things they have done to support both the local community and researchers all over the world.
This is my first year taking part in this event and I am pleased to have this opportunity to help the Marion County Literacy Council. I look forward to having fun while supporting this impactful cause.
--- ABOUT THE LITERACY COUNCIL ---
OUR MISSION: The Marion County Literacy Council enriches quality of life for adults in Ocala and Marion County by helping them build and improve their literacy skills. Our programs and services enhance people’s personal and professional circumstances—and create opportunity for them—one word at a time.
OUR VISION: The Marion County Literacy Council envisions an inclusive, equitable community in which every adult knows how to read and write capably and with confidence. We are committed to helping every adult acquire skills that will empower them to engage fully with, contribute to, and flourish within our community. We aspire to be a model provider of world-class literacy education in Ocala, greater Marion County, and beyond—and a place that makes a positive difference in people’s lives.
OUR SERVICES: The Marion County Literacy Council offers adult literacy services in the form of three core programs: Adult Basic Education (helping adults learn how to read and write); GED (helping adults earn their GEDs); and ESOL (helping adults become more capable, more confident speakers of English). We offer these services at our main downtown location, and also at a variety of locations across Marion County.
OUR WHY: In Marion County, an estimated 1 in 5 adults cannot read above a fifth-grade level. This means that everyday tasks that most of us take for granted are difficult for many adults in our community. Simple tasks such as paying a bill, helping a child with homework, grocery shopping, filling out a job application, or reading a prescription are overwhelming. It has also been shown that, on average, 100 hours of adult literacy education can raise a person’s annual income by as much as $10,000.
The Marion County Literacy Council serves and supports people in Ocala and Marion County who, historically, have been underserved or left behind. Our students are majority women (75%), they are majority people of color (60%), many of them live in rural and underserved communities, and almost all of them come from socio-economically disadvantaged families.
Low literacy is costly not only to individuals and families, but also to employers and to our community more broadly. Individuals with low literacy struggle to find employment and they often settle for low-paying jobs while fighting to increase their earning power to support their families. Perhaps most heartbreaking is the long-term effect that parents’ low literacy has on their children. Low literacy is an intergenerational ill: the strongest indicator of a child’s success in school is that child's mother’s level of education. By having the courage to seek our services, our students are trying to break the cycle of low education and poverty. The goal of the Marion County Literacy Council is to help aspiring adults in our community – especially those who are socio-economically disadvantaged – improve their quality of life by giving them critical tools to build better, happier lives for themselves and their families.