From English literacy to digital literacy to workplace literacy and beyond, The Literacy Council provides Frederick County adults with pathways to essential literacy skills.
A conversation with Denise Hill, Executive Director
Tell us your story!
In 1963, Kay Mackley and Dolly Engle, along with others from Church Women United, officially founded Frederick County Laubach Literacy—later to become the Literacy Council of Frederick County (the Literacy Council)—to teach adults how to read using the Laubach method.
The organization operated out of private homes until 1974 when the Evangelical Lutheran Church offered space in its Schaeffer Center on East Second Street in Frederick. In 1982, the Literacy council moved to its current home in the C. Burr Artz Library.
What do you like most about being an organization in Frederick County?
What I like most about being a leader of an organization in Frederick is the strong sense of community and collaboration. Frederick is a place where nonprofits, businesses, and local leaders genuinely support one another to strengthen the workforce and expand opportunity. That spirit of partnership makes it possible for organizations like the Literacy Council of Frederick County to connect adult learners with the education and skills they need to thrive.
Why did you join the Chamber?
We joined the Chamber to build meaningful relationships with business and nonprofit leaders who care about Frederick and its future. It’s a great space to connect, learn from other leaders, and find opportunities to collaborate. For the Literacy Council of Frederick County, it also helps us stay connected to the business community and better support employers and adult learners in our area.
How has being a member of the Chamber benefitted the Literacy Council?
Being a member of the Chamber has allowed us to build strong, meaningful relationships within the Frederick business community. It has created opportunities to share the work of the Literacy Council of Frederick County, connect with local employers, and collaborate on initiatives that strengthen the local workforce and improve the quality of life for adult learners and Frederick residents. The Chamber has also helped us develop valuable nonprofit partnerships that expand our reach and increase access to our programs. It has been a wonderful space for leadership connection and professional development.
What do you want the Literacy Council to be known for?
I want the Literacy Council of Frederick County to be known as a place where adults feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to grow. Our goal is to help people gain the literacy, language, and workforce skills they need to build better lives for themselves and their families. We also want to be known as a trusted partner in the community—working alongside local organizations and employers to create more opportunity for people across Frederick County.
How can the community support you?
There are many ways the community can support the Literacy Council of Frederick County. People can volunteer as tutors or classroom instructors, offer their professional expertise as a workshop facilitator, help spread the word about our programs, or connect us with individuals who could benefit from our services. Businesses and community members can also support our work through partnerships, sponsorships, and donations that help us continue providing life-changing education to adult learners in our community.
Anything else exciting to share?
Scrabble Mania is a fun, community-centered fundraising event hosted by the Literacy Council of Frederick County that brings people together for an exciting evening of friendly Scrabble competition. Teams gather to test their word skills, enjoy great company, and support adult literacy in our community. Whether you’re a seasoned Scrabble player or just love word games, Scrabble Mania offers a lively atmosphere with prizes, food, and opportunities to connect with others who believe in the power of education. Proceeds from the event help provide literacy, English language, and workforce skills programs for adult learners across Frederick County.
Join us on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at Steinhardt Brewing Company for our SCRABBLE® Mania for Literacy fundraiser! We are excited to partner again with Chris Sparks as our Game Master from Surelocked In Escape Games! This event is for adults 21 and over.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 6, 2026
TIME: Doors open at 5:15 p.m.
WHERE: Steinhardt Brewing Company 340 East Patrick Street, Frederick, Md. Event entrance is on the Patrick Street Side.
Individuals: $60
Team of 4: $240
The registration fee for players and teams includes a complimentary beverage from Steinhardt Brewing Company and appetizers.
SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE:
Double Letter, Triple Word, and Power Tile Sponsor Levels Available: $500, $1,000, and $1,500. For information about sponsor benefits, please contact dhill@frederickliteracy.org or visit https://www.frederickliteracy.org/scrabble-mania/
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.