FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Doe
Girling: (949) 721-1319
Doe@LiteracyProj.org

The Literacy Project Raises Funds to Expand Program

Newport Beach, CA, (September 16, 2016) The 7th annual What Dreams are
Made Of gala at the Island Hotel garnered $90,000, which exceeded the goal
needed to allow The Literacy Project (TLP) to cross new county lines. The Literacy
Project has been poised to make the necessary move into LA where officials for the
LAUSD have been requesting our program for over a year, commented new
executive director, Doe Girling, In 2015, 45% of third graders in Orange County and
35% in Los Angeles were NOT reading at a proficient level and because of the
success of events like this one we are going to change those statistics.
Sue Grant, TLP Founder and board chair, gave an impassioned speech as she
passed the baton on stage to Girling. After eight years of running the organization
and a cumulative $2.5 million raised during her tenure, Sue now assumes the role
as board chair.
Cindy Galardi Culpepper, CEO of Wienerschnitzel, along with Marjorie and Ken
Hironimus, Wienerschnitzel franchisees, presented TLP with a $50,000 check.
Literacy is a vital tool for not just success, but survival, and we are privileged to
play a role in this movement, said Culpepper.
Highlighting the event were three recent TLP graduates from Anaheim, who showed
tremendous improvement after completing TLPs successful reading program. The
students were accompanied by their role models, adults who represent the career
they dream to have in the future. The now third graders equipped with Dream
Cards illustrating their perfect job, bravely took center stage to share their career
aspirations with the audience. Jamie Gwen, celebrity chef and certified sommelier,
served as the role model to Sophia; Ron Hartman, renowned structural engineer,
was a role model to Donald and Ryan Peters, a detective sergeant and SWAT team
leader, was the role model to Armando.
The 2016 Steering Committee includes: Lisa Torres, Chair, Monette Zotovich, CoChair, Becky Alvidrez, Doe Girling, Sue Grant, Susan Hogan, Gina Jaha, Jeannie
Lawrence, Amber Torres, Kimberly Vig and Dawn Walcher.
Los Angeles Angels Chairman, Dennis Kuhl attended the event and was recognized
with the Dream Maker award for his years of volunteerism. They are making a
difference, said Kuhl of TLP, You see these kids up here and how they now read
and what their goals and ambitions are and it touches your heartstrings.

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About The Literacy Project

TLP offers a comprehensive instructional reading program that improves both
academic and attitudinal levels of students performing far below English proficiency
standards. The academic segment utilizes a reading game, which was co-developed
by The Regents of the University of California. Aligned with Common Core and
collaborative learning methods, TLP conducts 30 one-hour sessions, five days a
week, during a six-week program cycle. The program is administered by TLPs
Master Teachers who are highly credentialed as reading and language arts
specialists. The program is provided at no cost to both the school and at-risk
students in the second grade. The program teaches the fundamental principles of
phonics and literacy in all three learning modalitiesauditory, visual and tactile
critical to children with varying learning styles.
TLP Gala 2016 Photos
TLP-1 L-R: Dawn Walcher, Kimberly Vig, Amber Torres, Lisa Torres, Monette
Zotovich, Doe Girling, Sue Grant, Susan Hogan and Becky Alvidrez
TLP-2 L-R: Billy Eaton, Neda Eaton, Michelle Hatch and Dennis Kuhl
TLP-3 L-R: Jim Nye, TLP graduates Donald, Sophia and Armando
TLP-4 Wienerschnitzel Car
TLP-5 L-R: Sophia and Jamie Gwen
TLP-6 Ballroom and Table Setup
TLP-7 L-R: Julie Miles and Sue Grant
TLP-8 L-R: Susan Hogan and Sky Ham
TLP-9 L-R: Cindy Galardi Culpepper, CEO & Chairman of Galardi Group, Karen
Galardi, Corporate Communications & Giving at Galardi Group; Marjorie Hironimus,
Wienerschnitzel Franchisee and Ken Hironimus, Wienerschnitzel Franchisee
TLP-10L-R: Monette Zotovich, event co-chair and Steve Zotovich
TLP-11L-R: Cheryl Venneri, Ludovic Barras, Marie-Christine Dermond, Robert
Venneri
TLP-12L-R: Janie Merkle and Cindy Galardi Culpepper
TLP-13L-R: Lloyd Freeberg, Sue Grant, Rick Hutchinson

TLP-14L-R: JoAnn Albers, Reno Iannini, Lisa Iannini and Gina Mitchell
TLP-15L-R: Daniel and Lisa Torres, event chair