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Titans of television, movies and publishing will unite to support Literacy Partners at the 27th Annual “Evening of Readings” Gala, chaired by celebrated New Yorkers Liz Smith, Arnold Scaasi, Parker Ladd and Jacqueline Weld Drake.
To help celebrate, TV personalities and authors Whoopi Goldberg and Katie Couric, as well as bestselling authors Michael Connelly (author of City of Bones, Chasing the Dime, and The Lincoln Lawyer), and Stacy Schiff (Pulitzer Prize-winning nonfiction writer and author of the current bestseller Cleopatra: A Life), will read aloud from their own works. Joining these acclaimed authors on stage will be Literacy Partners students who will share their own inspiring essays about triumphing over adult illiteracy.
Literacy Partners, New York City’s only accredited adult literacy organization, will honor Barnes & Noble Founder Leonard Riggio and his wife, Louise Riggio, for their philanthropy and longtime support of literacy and the written word.
In addition, the 2011 Face of Literacy Award will be presented to The King’s Speech for its inspiring and entertaining portrayal of King George VI and his quest, against seemingly insurmountable odds, to find his voice. Screenwriter David Seidler will be in attendance to receive the award on behalf of the Academy Award-winning movie.
The Literacy Partners Face of Literacy Award recognizes individuals who have used their talents in a significant way to bring awareness to fact that adults, when challenged to find their personal power and voice in the world — with support and education - can have glorious results. In 2009, The Face of Literacy Award was presented to The Reader. Its leading actress, Kate Winslet, won the Academy Award for best performance by an actress.
Expected attendees for this year’s gala include: Peter Brown, Barbara Taylor and Robert Bradford, Alina Cho, Mary Higgins Clark, Joan Ganz Coony and Pete Peterson, Nina Rennert Davidson, Nora Ephron, Barbara Goldsmith, Gael Greene, Marvin Hamlisch, Terry Allen Kramer, James L. and Margo MacNabb Nederlander, Enid Nemy, Nicholas Pileggi, and Ingeborg Hanna Rennert.
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