We extend a heartfelt thanks to our 2023 Love of Literacy Luncheon sponsors, speakers, table captains, and attendees for joining us in making literacy a priority in our community. Your contributions to the Open Books Project are helping the Santa Barbara Education Foundation send new books home to more than 2,500 SB Unified students! We look forward to sharing updates soon.
Reservations are closed.
Emcee: Melinda Palacio
Keynote Speaker: Thomas Sanchez
Event Committee
Veronica Binkley
Elle Chaves
Melissa Davenport
Nina Dunbar
Tisha Ford
Kelly Fresch
Mat Gradias
Pedro Paz
Katie Szopa
Warren Ritter
Veronica Rogers
Donna Ronzone
Wendy Sims-Moten
Table Captains
Veronica Binkley
Melissa Brooks
Isis Castañeda
Eva Maria Catalan
Tisha Ford
Lisa Gosdschan
Bukola Ishola
Lindsay Johnson
John Ogilvie
Warren Ritter
Donna Ronzone
Sandy Schoolfield
Katie Szopa
Lauren Trujillo
Melissa White
Margie Yahyavi
Sherry Yong Chen
PROCEEDS WILL SUPPORT THE OPEN BOOKS PROJECT
Where did your love for literacy begin? Schools were a gateway to the mechanics of reading for most of us. Once we learned how to decipher words and sentences, the magical world of books was revealed. Unfortunately, more than 60% of California 3rd graders were not reading at their grade level in 2022. Nationally, 21% of US adults are illiterate. We want to change these statistics in Santa Barbara.
The Santa Barbara Education Foundation has supported critical literacy programs for students and teachers in the Santa Barbara Unified School District through its Literacy Project. With your help, we are now committed to cultivating a culture of reading that extends beyond the classroom.
This year, to celebrate the District’s launch of its first new literacy curriculum since 2015, we are launching the Open Books Project. Our goal is simple: raise funds to send 2,500 new books home to every TK-3rd grade student and their family during the 23-24 school year.