2013
03/18/2013 - The Perlman Music Program Cocktails, Dinner and a Chamber Music Concert in Palm Beach
03/15/2013 - Asia Week New York Kick-off Reception at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum,
03/12/2013 - Third Annual Fountain House Associates Spring Breakfast: “Between The Sheets”
03/05/2013 - NYU LANGONE MEDICAL CENTER’S FACES GALA HONORING LEON CHARNEY RAISED $4.5 MILLION
02/23/2013 - "I Have A Voice" fundraiser for Gigi's PLAYHOUSE
02/23/2013 - Eleventh Annual “Thanksgiving in February” Feeds over 500 of New York’s Needy
02/21/2013 - The French Heritage Society's Annual Palm Beach Gala Dinner
02/21/2013 - 24th Annual Gala of Heart & Soul Charitable Fund Auction at Christie’s
02/21/2013 - Eva Longoria Hosts Benefit for “Food Chains” Documentary - Exposes Exploitation in Am’s Farm Labor
02/13/2013 - Verdura hosts a fundraiser for“The Michael Feinstein American Songbook Initiative”
02/13/2013 - Lost and Found: The Pinajian Discovery, a benefit preview for the Fund for Armenian Relief
02/08/2013 - 56th Annual Red Cross Ball in Palm Beach
02/07/2013 - Lost and Found: The Pinajian Discovery benefit preview for the Fund for Armenian Relief
02/06/2013 - All Star Orchestra’s Preview Screening of their New Classical Music and On-line Education Television
01/29/2013 - Urban Greenwalk
01/23/2013 - The Perlman Music Program Fourth Charity Wine Auction
01/20/2013 - Budapest Festival Orchestra
2012
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2007
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Literacy Partners 27th Annual “Evening of Readings” Gala
05/16/2011 - By New York, NY

Literacy Partners 27th Annual “Evening of Readings” Gala

Literacy Partners Annual "Evening of Readings" Gala met and exceeded fundraising goals.

Thanks to the generous support of New York philanthropic and community leaders and headliners from the worlds of television, film, fashion, design and media, Literacy Partners raised substantial funds to help fight adult illiteracy.

Chaired by celebrated New Yorkers Liz Smith, Arnold Scaasi, Parker Ladd and Jacqueline Weld Drake, this year's event featured 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). All read aloud from their most recent works.
In addition, the 2011 Face of Literacy Award was 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 and Director Tom Hooper were in attendance to receive the award on behalf of the Academy Award-winning movie.
During the event, held at the David H. Koch Theater, Smith welcomed guests with a quote from the Dr. Seuss book I Can Read with My Eyes Shut: "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."

"This quote is as true today as it was 30 years ago," she pointed out, adding, "I wish we didn't need to have an organization like Literacy Partners…but we do. Almost a quarter of New Yorkers are functionally illiterate."

Literacy Partners, New York City’s only accredited adult literacy organization, honored Barnes & Noble Founder Leonard Riggio and his wife, Louise Riggio, for their financial support of the evening’s event as well as their philanthropy and longtime advocacy on behalf of literacy and the written word.

Leonard Riggio said, "The Riggio Foundation attempts to redress the inequities in our civilization. We believe in aspiration, opportunity and social justice. What Literacy Partners does is even more important than the things that Louise and I have done. Thanks, all of you, for opening doors. Let's all keep them open."

The King’s Speech Academy Award-winning screenwriter David Seidler was on hand to accept the Literacy Partners Face of Literacy Award. This honor 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.

Seidler, who himself battled a stutter in the past, said "To change is a very courageous act -- and I salute you, Literacy Partners students. I applaud you. You are my sisters and my brothers."

Literacy Partners students Josh Berkonti and Niama Khanboubi also joined the stars on stage, reading personal essays explaining the tremendous impact that the organization has had on their lives.

The Humanitarian Auction, conducted by Sotheby’s auctioneer Hugh Hildesley, rounded out the evening. Over $100K was initially raised, with a generous matching award from honorees Leonard and Louise Riggio for a total of over $200K in funds from the auction alone.

Photos: Patrick McMullan


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