BALF was founded in 1988 to help primarily low-income, minority and immigrant adults gain sufficient literacy to enable them to get and hold jobs, and to expand their horizons generally. Its programs have helped over 27,000 people to attain high-school diplomas and improve their English skills. It has awarded over 250 higher education scholarships to its literacy graduates, and $2.7 million in grants to other adult literacy programs in Greater Boston. It has become the “go-to” organization in its field, a leading agent in numerous initiatives such as the Massachusetts Alliance for Adult Literacy, English for New Bostonians (led by Mayor Menino) and the External Diploma Program Revision to review and revise the curriculum for this alternate path to high school credentials. All of BALF’s funding comes from private donors, corporations and foundations, as well as fees for technical assistance to other literacy programs, foundations and individuals. But the demand continues; more than 5,000 adults in Greater Boston are on waiting lists for literacy or English classes. This work is basic, but blessed; you can help open doors for people who will work hard to go through them.