The Rotary Club of Providence and The Providence Rotary Charities Foundation held their 7th Annual Legends for Literacy Gala on Thursday, October 29.
With our preliminary numbers in, this was our most successful event to date, including sponsorships, ticket sales, our appeal for classroom books, and popular auction items. The funds raised will support our George W. Babcock Literacy Initiative, established ten years ago.
To check out photos from the gala, click on the photo album above. Or click Read More below to learn more about the event.
This year's Honorary Chair was Don Saracen, Past President of our club. Our reception featured award-winning artist and author John Rocco, who created an original drawing before the eyes of gala attendees during the cocktail hour.
Our special guests – the Legends for Literacy – included past professional athletes, community leaders and RI children's authors and illustrators.
Our program featured a literary Panel Discussion with Malcolm Mitchell, author, poet, and New England Patriots Super Bowl Champion (2017); Renee Richards, the Gala's 2026 Richard A. Kaplan Award winner (Renee is a third-grade teacher at George J. West Elementary School in Providence); and Karyn Parsons, best known for her role as Will Smith's cousin Hilary Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air!
Guests enjoyed bidding on great auction items such as Gondola Rides, gourmet dinner, theatre tickets, restaurant gift cards, sailing on Mt. Hope Bay, New England Patriots Fan Package and Mystery Box, and Tuscan Beauty Vacation Package.