Forty-two million adult Americans cannot read this.

John and Carrie Morgridge want to change that. Their generosity and passion for reading education became the Morgridge International Reading Center (MIRC), a one-of-a-kind information and learning hub that will advance literacy through partnership and shared research.

While there is no shortage of information about reading strategies, sorting through it all and figuring out what works is no small challenge.  The MIRC’s collection of wide-reaching research discoveries and best practices makes the center the premier resource for finding solutions to literacy issues. “The center draws on and shares the work, knowledge and expertise of many to better serve educators,” says Enrique Puig, the center’s director.

The center’s Millennium Gallery — with its state-of-the-art videoconferencing screens — will enable teachers and scholars worldwide to collaborate virtually and learn new technologies that will transform their classrooms.

One billion children and adults — approximately 15 percent of the world’s population — lack basic literacy skills.

UCF and the MIRC are taking the lead on improving those statistics. The task of tackling the world’s literacy problems is grand but exciting — especially to John and Carrie Morgridge. Says Carrie, “We’re growing, inventing and creating. We are thrilled about our investment in UCF.”