Ruth Johnson Colvin

Ruth Johnson Colvin (December 16, 1916 – August 18, 2024) was an American philanthropist who was the founder of the non-profit organization Literacy Volunteers of America, now called ProLiteracy Worldwide in Syracuse, New York, in 1962. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in December 2006.

She attended Thornton Junior College in Harvey, Illinois, where she received a two-year degree. She also attended Moser Business College in Chicago

Career Colvin became aware of the problem of illiteracy in her hometown of Syracuse when the 1960 census reports were released in 1962; she learned that the city had over 11,000 people functioning at the lowest level of literacy. Always an avid reader herself, she worked with reading specialists at Syracuse University and developed materials to train volunteer tutors various motivation and instruction techniques. She developed two tutor training manuals, Tutor and I Speak English, which are considered to be authoritative sources for training volunteer tutors to teach adults basic literacy or English as a second language. The first tutors who completed the program were from Colvin's church women's group.

Presidential medal of freedom Colvin with Norman C. Francis (center) and Paul Johnson (right) at the White House in December 2006

Colvin was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush on December 15, 2006, in the East Room of the White House. The president noted that "Ruth Colvin is a person of intelligence and vision and heart. And she has earned the gratitude of many, and the admiration of us all."

Published works Tutor (1962) I Speak English (1962) Student Involvement Guidelines

Personal life and death Colvin lived in Syracuse, New York.

Her husband, Robert, died in 2014. and died at her home on August 18, 2024, at the age of 107.

In 1987, she received the President's Volunteer Action Award from President Ronald Reagan, the highest award given to a volunteer.