Celebrate Literacy! Event Raises Money for the Glen Ellyn Children's Resource Center

Thursday, December 15, nearly 100 people gathered for the 2nd Annual Literary Event to benefit the Glen Ellyn Children's Resource Center. After enjoying treats supplied by local merchants, Barbara Rinella treated the attendees to a program celebrating literacy and education.

Barbara Rinella is a former teacher who defines herself as an “academic entertainer”. For years she has been celebrating literature and learning through her delightful programs on current books. Her dramatization touched upon multiple life stories, including Andre Agassi's autobiography Open, Stacey Schiff's Cleopatra: A Life, and Greg Mortenson's Stones Into School because all three books - some controversial- lead to the recognition that education is the answer and success comes through discipline, hard work and perseverance!

This celebration was a community effort. The event took place in space donated by St. Mark's Episcopal Church. Coffee was supplied by the two Starbucks locations in Glen Ellyn. Einstein's, Flour Barrel Bakery and the local Dominick's Grocery store provided food. And the women organizing the event were a local book group seeking to improve the lives of our neighborhood children.

Celebrating literacy is a natural for the GECRC. The mission of the Resource Center is to help children from low-income families acquire the necessary skills in academics and social interaction to move successfully through grade school into adulthood. Afterschool tutoring is provided in all academic subjects with an emphasis on educating students for whom English is a second language. Founded in 2002, the GECRC relies on the support of donations, grants and volunteers.

For more information, visit our website www.gecrc.org