Dear Friend,

This month has been about celebration. Last week, we recognized the achievements of 12 Literacy Partners students who earned their high school equivalency degrees with a graduation ceremony. We are so inspired by the dedication they showed to achieve this goal. Our student, Darin, said it perfectly -  "I knew I had it in me - I needed someone else to see it in me too." We are so proud to have been a part of Darin's journey and all of our graduates!

Also in February, we are celebrating Black History Month with a drive to collect books for  Books of Their Own , our program which provides our students with amazing books for each of their children, building a home library and encouraging daily family reading. Thanks to our friends at Greenlight Bookstore, and with their support, we have created a   book wishlist celebrating diverse literature and authors. Help us reach our goal of 500 books by the end of the month - it is so important for our students' children to see themselves reflected in the books they read.

And lastly, on February 2nd, we celebrated the life and legacy of Liz Smith. Her memorial service was held on what would have been her 95th birthday. We miss Liz dearly, and look forward to honoring her legacy with Literacy Partners at our upcoming Gala on March 14. We hope you will join us for what will be a spectacular night.

To learn more about ways to get involved,   please  email  me  - I would love to hear from you. 

Sincerely,

Anthony Tassi,  CEO
Literacy Partners Graduation 

On February 13, we recognized 12 of our high school equivalency students for earning their degree. Each student received a $1,000 college scholarship - in honor of the late Rodman L. Drake. We thank Jackie Weld Drake for her outstanding generosity!

Each student has an inspiring story about why they came to Literacy Partners and the impact the classes have had. For Camille McPherson, it changed how she spent time with her family. "This class changed my life so much. The parent engagement that they taught us and how to read with your kids was so important. My kids both love when I read to them before sleep." 

Read more about Camille here.
Greenlight Book Drive
Help us honor Black History Month and diverse literature by participating in our book drive. Each book purchased goes directly to our students and their families. Your participation ensures that immigrant and low-income families in New York City have access to books - creating opportunities for family bonding, academic progress, and childhood development. 

The book drive ends on February 28 -  use code PARTNERBOOK for 15% off. Choose shipping option 'Other Processing', even though you will be prompted to enter delivery information. There is no shipping charge; books will be collected directly at Greenlight and delivered to us. 
2018 Gala: One Month Away! 
Join Cynthia McFadden as she hosts our Evening of Readings and Gala Dinner Dance on March 14! Attendees are in for an incredible night - we will be honoring Univision CEO Randy Falco, Publisher Joni Evans, and hearing from Pulitzer prize-winning author Junot Díaz. We will also honor the legacies of our champions Liz Smith, Parker Ladd and Arnold Scaasi. Purchase your ticket today!
Cycle with a Purpose on May 6!
Are you or your friends interested in biking for books in the 2018 TD Five Boro Bike Tour? We are recruiting team members for the ride on Sunday, May 6! The money raised by Charity Riders will help provide free literacy and language classes to low-income parents along with a home library of children's books for their families. To become a charity rider or to learn more, apply below or email [email protected]. We'd love to have you on board!
BECOME A MONTHLY SUPPORTER

Thanks to Literacy Partners, Maria has gained the confidence and English she needs to become more involved with her sons' homework. "We're learning the same words," Maria says. "I like that because we understand and learn together. We say, 'You try. I try.'" Maria's participation in education doesn't stop there - she's now an active parent at her son's school and part of the PTA. Recently, the principal called her "the president of the parents."

Read more about Maria and our other students here. P lease consider becoming a monthly supporter to help our students build on their success. You can do so by clicking the   donate button   and then checking the  Recurring Monthly  box on the Donate page. Thank you! 
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