Love of Literacy Luncheon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2010
Contact: Cheryl Crowley, ImMEDIAcy Public Relations, Inc.
561.776.7659 Office
561.371.5631 Cell

Literacy Coalition's Love of Literacy Luncheon to feature TV & Film Star Tony Plana

19th annual luncheon also kicks-off the 2010 Read Together Palm Beach County - One Book, One Community countywide reading campaign

West Palm Beach, Florida - Actor and Literacy Advocate Tony Plana is the featured speaker for the 19th annual Love of Literacy Luncheon, made possible by support from Bank of America. The luncheon is set for Friday, March 26, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts - Cohen Pavilion in West Palm Beach.

The Love of Literacy Luncheon is one of the largest "must attend" events of the season and is a sell-out year after year. This annual luncheon raises awareness of our county's significant literacy needs and provides vital funds to the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County to support a multitude of literacy programs serving the entire community from Boca Raton to Jupiter, and west to Belle Glade.

For the ninth year in a row, the luncheon has been made possible by Bank of America. "It is sometimes hard to imagine that 1 in 7 adults in Palm Beach County struggle daily with low literacy skills," said Fabiola Brumley, president, Palm Beach County Bank of America. "A literate and educated community is one of our most important assets. Bank of America is proud to be a part of the Literacy Coalition's efforts and it is our hope that we can inspire others to become literacy advocates."

Currently starring as Ignacio Suarez, the widowed father to America Ferrera's Ugly Betty in the ABC hit series, actor Tony Plana is the creator of an innovative literacy program called Beyond Borders: Literacy through Performing Arts. This unique program is designed to enable students to expand their educational horizons and academic achievements by moving beyond their personal, cultural and vocational borders. He also is the co-founder of the East L.A. Classic Theatre that is dedicated to providing educational outreach programs to minority youth.

Plana is known to a wide audience for his roles in film and television, and also for directing, writing and producing. He has starred in more than 70 feature films including JFK, Nixon and An Officer and a Gentleman and has appeared in popular shows such as Hill Street Blues, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Commander in Chief, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Monk, The Closer, The West Wing and FOX's 24. He has received numerous film and television awards. In 2005, he was honored with an Educator of the Year Award by Loyola Marymount University's Department of Education and in 2006 received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Millennium Momentum Foundation. Plana was born in Cuba. In 1960, his family fled Cuba and landed in Culver City, CA, where his father found work at a Tootsie Roll candy factory. After attending Loyola High School, Plana graduated magna cum laude from Loyola Marymount University, earning a bachelor's degree in literature and theater arts. He continued his theater training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England.

For the second year, the North Palm Beach law firm of Haile, Shaw & Pfaffenberger, P.A. is serving as Platinum Sponsor. Gold Sponsors for the luncheon include AT&T, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP, Greenberg Traurig, P.A., Gunster, LaBovick & LaBovick, P.A., The Palm Beach Post, Park Avenue BBQ & Grille, and Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. Silver Sponsors are Comcast, Florida Crystals Corporation, ImMEDIAcy Public Relations, Inc., Lewis Longman & Walker, P.A., Lynn University, Northern Trust, and SunTrust.

Luncheon Chairpersons are Cheryl Crowley, ImMEDIAcy Public Relations Inc and Dana Pickard, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP. Committee members are Joe Coscia, Phil DiComo, Jennifer Finnell, Noelle Frederickson, Lynn Kalber, Lisa Koza, Bernadette O'Grady and Tara Pregnolato.

This year's luncheon also kicks-off the 2010 Read Together Palm Beach County - One Book, One Community countywide reading campaign from March 26 - April 30. Everyone in Palm Beach County will be reading and discussing the same book at the same time. "The Book" will be revealed at a press conference on Monday, March 1 at the West Palm Beach Public Library at the corner of Clematis Street and Dixie Highway. The Read Together campaign is an effort to involve everyone in Palm Beach County to promote the importance of reading through thoughtful discussion and meaningful interaction among all of our residents. Similar reading campaigns take place in major cities across the country. The Read Together campaign will be seen throughout the county on bus signs, banners, posters, bookmarks, at local book stores and Web sites. Read Together Palm Beach County is a partnership between the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County, The Libraries of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County Cultural Council, ImMEDIAcy Public Relations Inc., and The Palm Beach Post.

About the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition
It is estimated that 1 in 7 adults in Palm Beach County function at the lowest level of literacy and approximately one third of fourth grade students cannot read at grade level. The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County is committed to promoting and achieving literacy for adults, children and families. For more information about the Love of Literacy Luncheon, call 561.776.7659 or 800.273.1030.Please insert page info here.