On May 11, Literacy Partners 25th
Anniversary "Evening
of Readings" Gala
met and exceeded
fundraising goals. Thanks to the
generous support of New York Society and headliners
from the worlds of fashion, design and media
Literacy Partners
raised over $1.2 million to help fight
adult illiteracy.
Chaired by celebrated New Yorkers
Liz Smith,
Arnold Scaasi
and
Parker Ladd, this year's event featured
television commentator
Barbara Walters
and authors Marie
Brenner,
David Wroblewski
and Christopher
Buckley. Each read aloud from their most
recent work, using a Sony "Reader Digital Book."
Literacy Partners, New York's only
accredited adult literacy organization, honored
philanthropists
Nina Rennert Davidson and
Mitchell Davidson
and author and historian
Barbara Goldsmith
for their leadership and dedication in support of
adult literacy. In addition,
Director Steven
Daldry accepted the “Face of Literacy”
award on behalf of himself and
Kate Winslet
for bringing attention to the issue of adult
illiteracy in
The Reader.
Also in attendance were Martha Stewart
(who twittered
from the event: http://twitter.com/marthastewart),
Leslie Stahl, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Mary Higgins
Clark,
Ira and Ingeborg Rennert, Julia Koch, Jane Friedman,
Robert Thomson, Heather Mnuchin, Susan Magrino
Dunning, Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss, Cornelia Guest,
Rory Tahari, Peggy Northrop, Mica Ertegun, Peggy
Siegel, Tommy Tune, Dr. & Mrs. Mark Meyer,
Mr. & Mrs. William Rayner, among others.
About Literacy Partners: For 35 years, Literacy
Partners has helped thousands of New Yorkers learn
the basic reading, writing and math skills needed to
succeed in day-to-day living. Through successful
collaborations with major corporations, community
partners and benefactors, Literacy Partners offers
small, welcoming classes taught by enthusiastic,
highly trained volunteer tutors. Literacy Partners
is the only nationally accredited adult literacy
program serving New York City.
For more information, please visit:
www.literacypartners.org