TLC Board Member and Student, Zayra Juarez, Honored by the New England Patriots Foundation
The Literacy Center is thrilled to announce that Zayra Jaurez, a TLC student and valued member of TLC’s Board of Directors, has been selected by the New England Patriots Foundation as a 2021 Myra Kraft Community MVP Award recipient. In honor of Zayra’s service to her community, TLC will receive a $10,000 donation from the Patriots Foundation. The TLC Board will be meeting soon to discuss how to best use this generous gift.
One of 26 winners chosen from over 250 applicants, Zayra’s award recognizes her outstanding volunteer contributions to TLC and wider community over this past year. Zayra first enrolled in English classes at TLC nine years ago, when she arrived in Attleboro from Guatemala. Through active participation in classes and her diligent work with TLC tutors, Zayra was able to improve her English and earn her CNA license. She now works as a CNA for a local senior assisted living facility, and joined the TLC Board of Directors in early 2020.
Zayra has shown incredible leadership within the local community this year. While serving as a frontline healthcare worker to vulnerable seniors in an assisted living facility throughout the pandemic, Zayra also navigated the challenges of childcare and homeschooling for her own children. In addition, Zayra used what precious little time she had left to serve on the TLC Board of Directors. During the spring and summer of 2020, Zayra worked closely with TLC staff to ensure that financial aid, made available through the CARES Act and state COVID-recovery funds, made their way to some of our community’s most at-risk families and children. In many cases, Zayra brought giftcards and groceries to families directly, knocking on their doors and making sure they received the help that they needed.
The Attleboro community is incredibly lucky to have Zayra as their advocate, and we are so very lucky to have her as a part of the TLC family!