Literacy Council of Greater Waukesha to Host Annual Celebration of Literacy. Agency Is Celebrating 28 Years of Service to the Community.

The Literacy Council of Greater Waukesha (LCGW) will celebrate its annual Celebration of Literacy with a fundraising event on Thursday, September 11, 2014 at the Grand Pavilion at the Country Springs Hotel.

Area restaurants and others will provide samples of some of their menu items. Restaurants and food service providers that are participating include: The Alarcon Restaurants (Antigua Real, Señor Tomás and Taco Amigo), Aurora Health Care, Café de Arts, Key Westsconsin, Panetta’s Catering and Saloon on Calhoun.

Desserts will be provided by: Buttercream Bakery, Café de Arts, Key Westsconsin, Molly’s Gluten Free Bakery, Nino’s Italian Bakery, O’ What a Day Café, Periwinkle Bakery and River Mill Foods.

The event is designed to celebrate LCGW’s students’ successes, its 28th anniversary, International Literacy Day (September 8) and kick off LCGW’s “90 Tutors in 90 Days” tutor recruitment drive. LCGW Board President, Sarah Stehly said, “LCGW celebrates International Literacy Day to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies.” International Literacy Day has been celebrated since 1966.

Celebration highlights will include success stories from LCGW Basic Skills and English as a second language students sharing how literacy tutoring has changed their lives.

“This year, 26 LCGW students received their high school credential, 14 became U.S. citizens, 4 Burmese refugees who came to Waukesha as young children graduated from high school and one adult refugee who came to Waukesha in 2007 was named Wisconsin Literacy’s Outstanding Learner on a Career Pathway,” Stehly said. “For 28 years, LCGW has had significant success in fostering our clients’ abilities to become self-reliant by providing them with necessary literacy skills. With newly-acquired skills in effective oral and written communication, our clients are able to support themselves and their families, thus eliminating the need for other social services and reducing reliance on public assistance. Literacy gives our clients the opportunity to leave the margins of society and become active members of our community.

The public is invited to attend The Celebration of Literacy which begins at 5 p.m. and includes a “Mystery Wine-Pull” Raffle and other raffles and a silent auction. To make a reservation or for information on attending LCGW’s Celebration of Literacy, contact the LCGW office at 262-547-7323.