Front Row: Azar Nafisi, Susan McLean, Myriam Phillip, Debra Leach. Back
Row: Tom Martorell, AJ Jacobs, Parker Ladd, Julia Koch, David Koch,
Liz Smith, Arnold Scaasi, Ann Patchett.
On
Monday, May 12, Literacy Partners, the respected
nonprofit organization that teaches adults to read and write, held
its annual black tie gala “An Evening of Readings”. The
event drew a star-studded crowd of New Yorkers to Lincoln Center
to honor David and Julia Koch and
pay homage to the written word.
Led by Gala chairs Liz Smith, Arnold Scaasi and Parker
Ladd, a crowd of more than 600 recently filled the New
York State Theater to recognize Mr. and Mrs. Koch for their generous
support and commitment to adult education, and to celebrate the
power of literacy.
In the Literacy Partners tradition, renowned authors from across
the globe were invited to read from selected works to the audience
of leaders of industry, business, government, entertainment, publishing,
and philanthropy. Gracing the stage this year were best-selling
author AJ Jacobs, reading from his highly praised The
Year of Living Biblically; Ann Patchett, author
of the award-winning novelBel Canto;Dr.Azar
Nafisi, who read from her moving family memoirThings
I've Been Silent About; and MSNBC's Chris Matthews, reciting
a selection fromThe Great Gatsby.
Among the guests were Board chair Peter Brown,Barbara
Taylor Bradford, Mario Buatta, Mary Higgins Clark, Dominick Dunne,
Pepe and Emilia Fanjul, Jane Friedman, Jamee and Peter
Gregory, Sharon Hoge, Woody Johnson, Joe Klein, Wilbur Ross, Peggy
Siegal, Leslie Stahl, Diana Taylor, Holland Taylor, Barbara and Donald
Tober, Ann Ziff, and hundreds of others.
The night also featured moving remarks from Literacy Partners students Myriam
Philip and Tom Martorell, who were recognized
for their commitment to learning to read as adults. The students
recounted their struggles with adult illiteracy.
The Literacy Partners mission is to ensure that all community members
have access to the education they need to realize their potential
as individuals, parents, and citizens. For 35 years, the organization
has provided free literacy classes to individuals, ages 16 and older,
and families. Classes include basic literacy, Pre-GED, GED,
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), family literacy,
and financial literacy. In 2006, Literacy Partners became
the only nationally accredited direct service adult literacy program
operating in New York City.
Gala chair Parker Ladd, honorees Julia and David Koch, Gala chairs Liz Smith and Arnold Scaasi.
Diana Taylor and Arnold Scaasi.
Mary Julia Koch and Liz Smith.
Ann Ziff and Somers Farkas.
Donald and Barbara Tober.
Arthur Diedrick and Barbara Taylor Bradford.
Karen Burke and Thomas Knapp.
Anthea Disney, Peter Howe, Jane Friedman and Jed Scala.
Jeff Sharp, Doug Steinbrech, Peter Brown, David Kleinberg.
Brad Comisar, Julia Koch, David Koch, Guest, Elizabeth Koch.
