Bidding Starts May 25! Amazing Items include name a character in a future James Patterson book, Autographed NBA All Star Basketball, VIP Tour of the Wall Street Journal, VIP Vacation Stays & More!

On June 2, 2009 the Literacy Associates Committee of Literacy Partners will be holding a fundraising event located at Tenjune in the meatpacking district of New York City. This Committee is made up of and targeting a well-established group of business people ages 25-45. We need your help to fulfill our objective to raise funds for our free adult literacy programs. Please join our efforts by bidding on our auction or joining us at our event. To purchase tickets to our event or make a donation please visit click here.

For over 35 years, Literacy Partners mission has been to ensure that all community members have access to the education they need to realize their potential as individuals, parents, and citizens. We fulfill this mission by providing free literacy classes in New York City to individuals, ages 16 and older, and families. Our classes include Adult Basic Literacy; Pre-GED; GED, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL); and Family Literacy/ESOL, which all incorporate instruction in Family, Financial, and Health Literacy.

Upon entry to our programs, nearly 80% of our students are considered functionally illiterate. That means that they cannot read well enough to find an intersection on a map, comprehend the instructions on a medical prescription, or understand the implications of their child’s report card. They cannot perform the mathematical functions needed to count money or create a family budget, and do not understand concepts of banking, bill paying and savings.

Although 3.7 million New York State residents read below the fifth grad