A Celebration of Service: Anne Stokley
On May 11, 2026, our beloved volunteer and friend, Anne Stokley, was the recipient of the Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service. This is an extremely high honor; it is given to the top 20-25 volunteers in the state each year and only one nomination is permitted per county, making Anne the representative of New Hanover County for 2026. We couldn’t imagine a better recipient for this award.
Anne is a rare individual who makes a profound impact at every level of Cape Fear Literacy Council. As a volunteer, Anne has served as a 1-on-1 tutor, a small class teacher, a board member, and she launched – and still helps maintain – a for-profit enterprise to benefit our nonprofit.
Anne first joined CFLC in 2017 as a tutor in the Adult Literacy program. Her student, Vincent, has advanced from a 2nd grade level to an 8th grade level in reading since they began working together. He currently takes part in “Readers’ Theater,” a class which Anne helped teach for three years, and, most importantly, he now truly enjoys learning.
While Anne’s heart is dedicated to the students of CFLC, her sharp mind made her an extraordinary asset as a board member. She served the maximum commitment possible for our board and was thoroughly engaged. She was instrumental on our Communications and Development committees, helped us navigate the pandemic (her background in both virology and operations was phenomenal), and was a leader in a small committee focused on long-term strategic planning.
Anne’s vision, willingness to work collaboratively, dedication to CFLC’s mission, and great intelligence has helped us imagine new possibilities. If you’re familiar with our book collection efforts and online bookstore, you can thank Anne for spearheading that project. Launched under Anne’s leadership in 2019, the bookstore has grown steadily as an additional source of revenue. We’re proud to report that our Amazon bookstore raised more than $30K in 2025 and is currently run by an incredible group of volunteers who handle all aspects of operations and marketing, with very limited support from staff. Anne continues to be a part of this team, the Friends of Literacy, today!
Anne is truly one of the finest, most dedicated volunteers that Cape Fear Literacy Council has ever had. She is smart, kind, has high expectations, and is willing to work hard in any capacity to ensure our organization thrives.
Congratulations, Anne!