National Braille Press Gala Raises $440,000 for Braille Literacy

(Photo courtesy of National Braille Press, from Left to Right: Carol Lev, Mark Lev, Tom Sullivan, Shelly O’Neill, Kathy Truscott, Brian Mac Donald, taken at Fenway Park)

The National Braille Press (NBP) “A Million Laughs for Literacy” Gala raised more than $440,000 for braille literacy on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 at Fenway Park. The gala also honored the Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation with the Hands-On! Award for being instrumental in sponsoring the launch of the ReadBooks! Because Braille Matters literacy program for young children in 2003. At the gala, foundation Executive Director Susan Olivo announced a new $15,000 donation to the NBP for its work in providing braille materials to the blind and visually impaired.

The gala also received another unexpected large donation of $25,000 from SFV-LLGC President, Mitch Rosen.

“The outpouring of support at the gala to fund our work for the blind and visually impaired was overwhelming,” said Brian Mac Donald, President of National Braille Press. “Our distinguished co-chairs worked tirelessly to make the gala a success, plus having the event at Fenway Park, the home of the 2018 World Series Champions, we knew we were going to hit our own home run.”

The Co-Chairs for the National Braille Press “A Million Laughs for Literacy” Gala were: Mark Lev, managing director of Fenway Sports Management and his wife Carol; Tom and Shelly O’Neill of O’Neill and Associates; Ted Truscott, CEO of Columbia Threadneedle Investments| Global Investment Management Group, and his wife Kathy; and Tom Sullivan, Founder of Lumber Liquidators, Cabinets to Go, Chateau GABY, Proton and Gracious Home.

“A Million Laughs for Literacy” Gala also featured a performance by stand-up comedian Kathleen Madigan who starred in her own HBO Half-Hour Comedy Special and a Comedy Central Presents special. She is also a veteran of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Late Show with David Letterman, and the Bob and Tom Show.

National Braille Press is a non-profit braille publisher and producer of braille products, National Braille Press promotes literacy for blind children through outreach programs and provides access to information by producing information in braille for blind children and adults. For more information visit www.nbp.org.