Love of Literacy Luncheon Raises More Than $200,000 for Literacy Programs Countywide
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla., March 16, 2018 — New York bestselling author Will Schwalbe drew quite the crowd for the annual Love of Literacy Luncheon. More than 500 people attended the March 9 benefit for the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County. The luncheon brought in more than $200,000 for literacy programs countywide.
Schwalbe is the author of The End of Your Life Book Club, Books for Living, and Send: Why People Email So Badly and How to Do it Better. He has been an avid reader since he was a little boy.
“Will shared his love of literacy and passion for reading,” said Kristin Calder, Coalition CEO. “He inspired us all to read more books, and find meaning and lessons in the books through talking about the stories. It was a great celebration in support of the Literacy Coalition’s many literacy programs and initiatives throughout the county.”
As part of the program, Literacy AmeriCorps members shared inspirational stories about the students whose lives they have helped transform.
Luncheon sponsors included:
- Presenting Sponsor Bank of America
- Platinum Sponsor Brenda Medore
- Diamond Sponsors Schmidt Family Foundation and The Chester Foundation
- Gold Sponsors AT&T, GL Homes, Greenberg Traurig, P.A., Karen Rogers, The Palm Beach Post and Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A.
- Silver Sponsors Akerman LLP, Avalon Waterways/Travel Leaders Palm Beaches, Chiara & Tom Clark and Jennifer & James Cacioppo, Florida Power & Light, Gentle Medicine Associates, Haile, Shaw and Pfaffenberger, P.A., The Kahlert Family, Lynn University, Northern Trust, Office Depot, Plastridge Insurance and WPTV 5
Bernadette O’Grady and Debra Ghostine chaired the luncheon. Their committee members were Leanne Adair, Regine Bataille, Chiara Clark, Maggie Dickenson, David Fleisher, Seran Glanfield, Mim Harrison, Lynn Imperatore, Stephanie Kahlert, Lynn Kalber, Karen Rogers, Carol Rose, Laura Silver, Jorgette Smith, Therese Snyder, Camilla Sorenson, Kenneth Spillias and Bettina Young.
About the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County
A recipient of the coveted 4-star Charity Navigator rating for nine consecutive years, the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County has worked to improve the quality of life in our community by promoting and achieving literacy. One in seven adults in our county is unable to read and understand information found in books, newspapers and manuals and nearly half of all third graders are not reading on grade level. 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 more than 27,000 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.
For more information, contact:
Kristin Calder
(561) 279-9103
E-mail: kcalder@literacypbc.org
