Community Encouraged to Nominate Literacy Heroes
New Military Category Announced for the Fifth Annual EventNovember 21, 2009: West Chester, PA
Megan Bowman, West Chester Public Library
610-662-6735
Community members are asked to nominate friends, colleagues, neighbors or loved ones who they feel embody literacy heroes in Chester County. These nominations are being accepted online at www.literacyheroes.com between now and January 15, 2010, in conjunction with the Fifth Annual Literacy Heroes Breakfast.
Back by popular demand, West Chester Public Library is teaming up with Verizon to honor eight local residents who have worked tirelessly to champion the cause of literacy within the past year. The recipients will be chosen from nominations submitted in various categories and honored at a celebratory breakfast in April at Longwood Gardens.
The 2011 event will offer many new and exciting developments, including the addition of a new category, the Military Literacy Hero Category.
Board President Howard Sundwall stated, “We are delighted to honor and recognize members of our armed forces who are promoting literacy both domestically and abroad, as well as any local resident who is working to promote literacy-based initiatives with members of the armed forces. Examples could be a soldier deployed overseas who is coordinating book clubs, or a local school or company that organizes book shipments to provide reading materials to members of our military who are serving this country in parts of the world where books are not readily available.” Categories available for community nominations during the fifth annual event include: adult, youth, local author, military, technology/innovation, community impact, corporate, and education.
WCPL Development Officer Megan Bowman said, “I think it’s important to recognize that literacy heroes are not only teachers or educators who spend their time teaching others how to read and write-- they are community volunteers, grandparents, and individuals who spend their valuable time helping others.”
When asked about their role as Title Sponsor of the event, Gale Y. Given, president, Verizon Pennsylvania, said, “Verizon is proud to join with The West Chester Public Library once again and recognize individuals in our community who have empowered themselves to spark a joy and passion for reading and writing in their lives, and in the lives of others. We are quite excited to celebrate these role models who give selflessly of themselves to build stronger, healthier communities.”
WCPL Director Victoria Dow commented, “We are very eager to see the nominations that are received this year. The stories submitted in prior years have been highly inspirational, and we certainly hope that our community will once again rally to support this important community-wide event. As we approach the holiday season and economic concerns are soaring, I can’t think of a more fitting gift than spending a few moments to nominate a friend, colleague, neighbor or peer. There is no fee to participate, nor is there any limit on the number of nominations that can be submitted. Sharing these stories to the general public is truly a gift that will keep on giving.”
There are only eight weeks left to nominate a literacy hero. To do so online, please log onto www.literacyheroes.com. Nomination brochures can also be obtained by contacting the library at 610-696-1721.
For more information on the event, stay tuned!
Download this press release here.
