Literacy Nassau Celebrates Recognition Night 2009

(Long Island, N.Y.) Literacy Nassau, the only no-cost, learner-centered literacy organization in Nassau County, providing one-to-one and small group tutoring for adults who are functionally illiterate in English, will celebrate Recognition Night on Thursday, May 28, 2009 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock. The annual event celebrates Literacy Nassau’s students, tutors, volunteers and friends who have shared their time, talents and benevolence to fulfill those basic needs of the organization’s adult student learners. Literacy Nassau is committed to ensuring that each individual in Nassau County will one day live literate lives.

Of particular note is Open Door, a compilation of stories and poems written by the adult student learners. A 60 page volume, Open Door is the result of hard work, discipline and dedication on the part of a student and volunteer tutor. All guests at Recognition Night receive a copy of Open Door. In addition, an “author’s table,” generously sponsored by  R.S. Abrams & Co., LLP, provides an opportunity for the adult student learners to sign their pages in Open Door and for supporters to meet these remarkable achievers. An excerpt, entitled Memories follows:

“Friday afternoons were special times for me and my mother. She would talk about her problems to me and I would talk about mine to her. What also made it special is that we would have ice cream. As I got older I stopped seeing her every Friday and starting doing other activities like taking girls to movies and parks. One day my mother told me, “You are going to be the backbone of the family.” I didn’t know what she was talking about but now I do. My mother died October 26, 2008.”

There is no charge to attend Recognition Night; sponsorships are still available. Other generous sponsors this year include Student Sponsor, Tina Sanacore; Glaceau, maker of vitaminwater, which will be served at the event; and Friend of Literacy Nassau Sponsors Barbara Behrens & Joel Rindler, and Mindy Ferrentino Wolfle, President of Neptune Marketing LLC. In conjunction with the staff of Literacy Nassau, Neptune Marketing is the producer of Open Door 2009. Many others have taken out tributes in Open Door, recognizing tutors, students, staff and volunteers.

For additional information, please contact Literacy Nassau at 516.867.3580.

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