Literacy Partners Marks 40 Years with an Evening Celebrating the Power of Reading, Hosted by 60 Minutes Journalist Lesley Stahl
Hosted by journalist Lesley Stahl and honoring Patricia Cornwell, Sherrie Westin, Barbara Tober, and Sabastian Niles, The Interior Review reports directly from Pier Sixty, where Literacy Partners' Evening of Readings & Gala Dinner celebrated its 40th year.
The Reality of Literacy in America
It's easy to take the ability to read for granted—you're doing it right now. But imagine not being able to read this article. Or a recipe. Or a restaurant menu. Or the instructions on a medicine bottle.
For millions of Americans, those scenarios aren't hypothetical. According to National University, 21% of adults in the United States are functionally illiterate, meaning everyday tasks can become significant challenges.
It's a reality that organizations like Literacy Partners have spent decades working to change.
The nonprofit, founded by Liz Smith, marked the 40th anniversary of its Evening of Readings & Gala Dinner at Pier Sixty in New York City. The celebration began with a waterfront cocktail reception accompanied by live music before guests moved inside for dinner, remarks, and a live auction.
Guests attend Literacy Partners’ 40th Annual Evening of Readings & Gala Dinner. Image: Madeleine Thomas via BFA.
After forty years, Literacy Partners has become something of an institution. The board, guest list, and roster of supporters read like a cross-section of the country’s literary, publishing, business, and media worlds. Many attendees have been involved with the organization for decades. Even Stahl herself is a longtime supporter, having hosted the event on multiple occasions. Guests included longtime supporter, Jean Shafiroff, publisher Joni Evans, prolific producer Sheila Nevins, Emmy-winning journalist Perri Peltz, boardmember and Marshall Wace partner Courtney E.K. Lewis, and author Bill Buford.
This continuity gives the evening a distinctive character. While many galas celebrate a moment, Literacy Partners celebrates a mission that has endured across generations and has become a stable reunion for the literary community.
Honoring Literacy Champions
Journalist Lesley Stahl presents at the Literacy Partners’ 40th Annual Evening of Readings & Gala Dinner. Image: Madeleine Thomas via BFA.
The evening recognized four individuals whose work reflects Literacy Partners' commitment to education, storytelling, service, and opportunity, each presented with heartwarming personal stories and messages of appreciation.
Award-winning author Patricia Cornwell received the Lifetime Achievement Award. A pioneering figure in contemporary crime fiction, Cornwell has built an internationally acclaimed body of work that has captivated readers and helped define an entire genre with its scientific realism and female lead. Supporters of the evening were treated to a copy of Cornwell’s new memoir, True Crime: A Memoir.
Awards at Literacy Partners’ 40th Annual Evening of Readings & Gala Dinner. Image: Madeleine Thomas via BFA.
Sabastian Niles, President and Chief Legal Officer of Salesforce, received the Distinguished Leadership in Literacy Award for leadership that reflects the importance of access, equity, and opportunity in building stronger communities.
Barbara Tober received the Lizzie Award, named in honor of Literacy Partners founder Liz Smith. A patron of the arts, publishing executive, and lifelong New Yorker, Tober served as Editor-in-Chief of BRIDES magazine for more than three decades and has long been a supporter of cultural and philanthropic causes. Barbara shared excerpts from her memoir.
Sherrie Westin, President and CEO of Sesame Workshop, received the Champion of Literacy Award. Her work leading the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street reflects a lifelong commitment to children's education and literacy.
$1.3 Million Raised for Literacy Programs
Guests attend Literacy Partners’ 40th Annual Evening of Readings & Gala Dinner. Image: Madeleine Thomas via BFA.
By the end of the evening, the gala had raised an extraordinary $1.3 million to support Literacy Partners' life-changing literacy programs.
Commenting on the significance of the occasion, Literacy Partners CEO Asaf Bar-Tura reflected on both the evening's accomplishments and the organization's broader mission.
"This gathering, which celebrated remarkable literacy champions, demonstrated that when we come together, a better future is possible," said Bar-Tura. "Literacy is a gateway to social mobility and economic opportunity. The Literacy Partners community will continue to insist on a nation where everyone has the opportunity to read, work, engage, and thrive."
Literacy Partners CEO Asaf Bar-Tura gives remarks at Literacy Partners’ 40th Annual Evening of Readings & Gala Dinner. Image: Madeleine Thomas via BFA.
Looking around the room, it was difficult to disagree. Forty years after the first Evening of Readings was held, Literacy Partners continues to prove that literacy is about far more than books. It is about opportunity, confidence, independence, and the ability to participate fully in society.
For Monica Bunay, the student who spoke at the evening, literacy opened the door to a healthcare career and the chance to help others follow the same path. For her children, it has helped create a stronger foundation for success in school. And for the hundreds gathered along the Hudson River that night, it served as a reminder that something as simple as the ability to read can change the course of a life.
How to Support Literacy Partners
Those interested in supporting the organization can contribute through direct donations, volunteer opportunities, corporate partnerships, and advocacy efforts that help expand access to literacy education for adults, parents, and caregivers. The nonprofit's programs focus on breaking cycles of poverty and creating stronger outcomes for entire families by helping adults build the literacy skills needed to thrive at home, at work, and in their communities.
As the stories shared throughout the evening demonstrated, literacy has effects that extend far beyond the classroom. When a parent gains confidence applying for a job, helping a child with homework, or reading a medicine bottle, the benefits can ripple across generations.
Information about Literacy Partners' programs, volunteer opportunities, or ways to contribute can be found here.
With a perspective defined by an eye for detail and a love for craftsmanship, Barbara Tober remains as influential and impactful as ever.