Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey and Literacy Volunteers of Union County raised more than $75,000 for the organizations’ free adult tutoring program when the two groups celebrated “Improving Lives through Literacy” at the Literacy Volunteers Gala 2013 held recently at Shackamaxon Country Club in Scotch Plains. The event drew more than 240 people from across New Jersey while honoring Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter and author Rosanne Cash, Commissioner Harold J. Wirths of the State of New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, and Henry Goldsmith of Mays Landing, retired Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey President.
Proceeds will go to support Literacy Volunteers Basic Skills, English-as-a-Second Language, GED Test Prep, and Citizenship Programs. Literacy Volunteers recruits, trains, supervises, and supports volunteers to provide free, student-centered tutoring for adults struggling to read, write, and speak English. The organization also prepares adult students for the GED high school equivalency exam.
“Thanks to our GALA 2013 committee, co-chaired by Carl Salisbury, Esq. of Westfield and Hollie Teslow, Esq. of Morristown, we garnered tremendous support from businesses and individuals across New Jersey,” said Elizabeth Gloeggler, executive director of Literacy Volunteers of Union County. “We are so appreciative of this terrific outpouring of support – it will enable us to dramatically improving lives through literacy.”
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C.R. Bard, Inc. was the Platinum Event Sponsor. Kilpatrick Townsend was the Gold Sponsor, and PSE&G was the Silver Sponsor.
Award-winning journalist Brian Thompson of NBC 4 New York served as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. Comedian and actor Dave Goldstein, who has appeared on NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien, conducted the Gala Live Auction.
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Auction donors included:
A Good Yarn
Ash Brook Golf Course
Beautiful Light Candles
Tony Bennett
Trish Brill
Brooklyn Bontanic Garden
Brooklyn Nets
Calvin Klein
Cape May Stage
Chelsea Piers
Cosimo’s Restaurant
Cove Haven Resorts
Cranford Dramatic Club
Crossroads Theatre
Dangerfield’s Comedy Club
Farmhouse Store
Ferraro’s
Figi Nails
Rosemary Flannery
Galloping Hill Golf Course
George Street Playhouse
Glitter Girls
Goya Foods
Hamilton Park Hotel
Barbara Hathaway
Hotel La Samanna
Imagine Salon
Joanie Schwarz Photography
Arlene Klemow
Kramer Portraits
KT Interior Design
Janet Lee
Limani Seafood Grill
Lord and Taylor
L’Oreal
Dan Margolis
McCarter Theatre
Medieval Times
Morgan Library and Museum
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
New York Giants
New York Jets
New York Knicks
New York Rangers
NJPAC
NY Skyride
Paula Adams Interiors
Recipe for a Healthy Life
Regina Riccioni
Perrine Robinson-Geller
Rutger’s Scarlet Knights
Carl Salisbury
Salon Visage
Connie Schwein
Seraphim Wellness
Shackamaxon Country Club
Shakespeare Theatre of NJ
Shop Rite
Sixthman Music Cruises
Sole Shoes
Somerset Patriots
SOPAC
James Sosinski
Spanish Tavern
Stage House Tavern
State Theatre
Stop & Shop
Sunrise Cellars
Suzanne Sayegh Interior Designs
Swan House Inn
Terra Momo Restaurant Group
Hollie Teslow
The Docs Agency
Top of the Rock
Town Book Store
Trader Joe’s
Trenton Thunder
Walgreen’s
What a Dish
Willow Street Boutique
