Featured Speaker Author Geraldine Brooks Draws a Sold-Out Crowd
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Kristin Calder
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E-mail: kcalder@literacypbc.org
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla., April 30, 2024 – More than 600 literacy supporters turned out to hear New York Times bestselling author Geraldine Brooks at the 33rd Annual Love of Literacy Luncheon presented by Bank of America. The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County’s signature annual event raised $300,000 for child, adult and family literacy programs throughout the county.
Known for her impeccably researched historical novels, the Australian-born author shared her journey from journalist to novelist. Brooks won the Pulitzer Prize in fiction in 2006 for her novel March. Her novels Horse, People of the Book, Caleb’s Crossing and The Secret Chord all were New York Times bestsellers. Prior to writing novels, Brooks was a journalist at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Wall Street Journal.
The luncheon, held at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, was co-chaired by Telsula C. Morgan of Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. and Lindsay Reinhart of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. The Luncheon Committee members included Dr. Regine Bataille, M.D., Maggie Dickenson, Debra Ghostine, Len Gray, Grace Halabi, Stephanie Kahlert, Bernadette O’Grady, Carol Rose, Kenneth Spillias, Kelly Starling, Crystal Torres, Nancy Vera and Janel Williams.
In addition to Presenting Sponsor Bank of America, the Coalition is grateful for the support of:
- Platinum Sponsor: Brenda Medore, David K. and Pamela P. Reyes
- Diamond Sponsors: Tim and Nancy Haviland; Nan Johnson and Robin Muir; Kosinski Family Foundation and the Robinson Family Fund.
- Gold Sponsors: Shawn M. Donnelley and Christopher M. Kelly, Gentle Medicine Associates, Inc., GL Homes, Greenberg Traurig, P.A., Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A., The Palm Beach Post, Karen Rogers, SCAPS Medical, LLC, and Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A.
- Silver Sponsors: Akerman, LLP, Cozen O’Connor, First Horizon Foundation, Barbara & Len Gray, Levenger Foundation, Stephanie Kahlert, Lynn University, Lytal Reiter Smith Ivey & Fronrath, Nason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris & Fumero, P.A., Bernadette O’Grady/WPTV 5, The Lynch Family & Plastridge, and US Bank.
For more information about the Coalition’s literacy programs and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.LiteracyPBC.org.
About the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County
A recipient of the coveted 4-star Charity Navigator rating for 14 consecutive years, the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County works to improve the quality of life in our community by promoting and achieving literacy. In Palm Beach County, more than half of all third graders are not reading on grade level and 22% of adults aged 16 and older lack basic literacy skills and can’t fill out a job application or read a bus schedule. Through extensive outreach and collaboration with a network of community partners, the Literacy Coalition strives to ensure that individuals who need to improve their literacy skills receive the help they need. By providing services to 55,967 adults, children and families each year, the Literacy Coalition’s goal is for every child and every adult in Palm Beach County to be able to read.
