On Friday, March 28, 2008, at 11:30 a.m. the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition will hold its 17th annual Love of Literacy Luncheon at The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts – Cohen Pavilion in West Palm Beach. Each year, anticipation for the Love of Literacy Luncheon begins early and typically sells out months ahead. The Love of Literacy Luncheon raises awareness of our county’s significant literacy needs and provides vital funds to support a multitude of literacy programs serving the community from Boca Raton to Jupiter and west to Belle Glade. We are delighted to announce that for the seventh year, Bank of America will serve as the Presenting Sponsor.

The 2008 luncheon will feature national news correspondent Byron Pitts. In this role, Pitts has covered many of the nation’s biggest stories of the past few years. He was an embedded correspondent covering the war in Iraq and was also a lead correspondent at Ground Zero immediately following the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center, earning him an Emmy for an individual reporting. He has covered the war in Afghanistan, the military buildup in Kuwait, the Florida fires, the Elian Gonzalez story, the Florida Presidential recount, the mudslide in Central America and the refugee crisis in Kosovo, among many stories. Raised by a single mother in a working class neighborhood in Baltimore, Pitts was illiterate until the age of twelve and had a constant stutter. At the podium he shares his incredible story of turning struggle into strength and inspires audiences to reach for their dreams.
Presenting Sponsor: Bank of America
Platinum Sponsor: WPBF TV 25 & WPBF Digital Media
Gold Sponsors: Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP • Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
Gunster Yoakley & Stewart, P.A. • Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. • NCCI Holdings
Northern Trust • The Palm Beach Post • Park Avenue BBQ & Grille
Silver Sponsors: Florida Crystals Corporation • Florida Power & Light
ImMEDIAcy Public Relations, Inc. • Lamn Krielow Dytrych & Co. • Lynn University