Literacy Volunteers of Maricopa County, Inc. (LVMC) began in 1982 by offering free literacy services to adults who read below the fifth grade level. Volunteers at that time had backgrounds in education. That first year, approximately 50 adults received services and were linked with one-to-one tutors. Today LVMC serves almost 1,800 students annually. In 1982 the population of Maricopa County was about 900,000. Currently, the population is over 2.8 million. Estimates are that there are more than 500,000 adults in Maricopa County who are "functionally illiterate." These individuals are unable to keep pace in our complex society and in today's high technical workplace.

In this country alone, 70% of the prison population is illiterate, 75% of the unemployed is illiterate, and 85% of the juvenile offenders have reading problems. Arizona has one of the highest high school drop out rates in the nation. LVMC has targeted specific issues related to this area.

Literacy Volunteers of Maricopa County, Inc. is one of approximately 1200 affiliates of ProLiteracy America. In 1997, LVMC was selected the best volunteer-based adult literacy program in the nation and in 1998, LVMC was again given LVA's top award, the Exemplary Practices Award in recognition of their exemplary program practices. In 1999, LVMC was awarded the nation's highest award, the "Secretary's Award" for Outstanding Adult Education and Literacy Program from the U.S. Department of Education.