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MPNnow.com —
The fairytales in children books will come alive at the first fundraiser event for the non-for-profit organization, Mercier Literacy for Children. The fundraiser, “Uncork Your Imagination,” is a wine and culinary event with a twist: Each restaurant will present their fare inspired by a popular storybook. Celebrating the classic stories highlights the organization’s mission to teach Rochester inner city kids how to read and write. The event is next Thursday, March 1 at the Auditorium Theatre.
Event highlights
1 Agathi Georgiou, event coordinator for “Uncork Your Imagination,” said she really believes in this program.
“The more we expand [the program] the more children we can accept,” she said. “It’s a great feeling and such a fun idea.”
2 The wine and culinary event will feature restaurants and wineries from the region, including Tavern58, Lento and Edibles Restaurant and Bar. They’ll fashion their food after the Three Little Pigs and Jack and the Beanstalk. A jazz band will set the mood as actors, including Pittsford’s Eva Mancarella, parade as story book characters.
3 All proceeds from the event, including a Chinese and silent auction, will go toward Mercier Literacy for Children. Roseanne Kulikowski of Brighton has been the director of the program since it began.
“In six years we’ve grown a lot,” she said. “Our summer program has really blossomed. We’d like to expand how many children we have. It’s important for us to improve and establish a culture in the schools we’re in.”
Why you should attend
“The goal is to increase awareness,” Georgiou said. “We’re setting up a booth for the kid’s wishlist as well. I’ve shadowed the children in the program ... and they don’t have other things that they need, like shoes or mittens.”
The program is currently at Public School 9 and other childcare centers in Rochester's poorest neighborhoods.
“It’s huge in the city,” Kulikowski. “It’s in the neediest part, where there is high poverty, high crime, low graduation rates. Were seeing kids that aren’t at grade level.”
About Mercier Literacy for Children
George Mercier founded the program in 2002. The program utilizes NYS certified teachers to provide a formal literacy program to urban students in grades K-6. It includes student assessments, free books and other services in small groups for an after school and summer tutoring programs. The program is delivered in collaboration with Dr. Naomi Erdmann, director of the Graduate Literacy Program at Nazareth College.
The fairytales in children books will come alive at the first fundraiser event for the non-for-profit organization, Mercier Literacy for Children. The fundraiser, “Uncork Your Imagination,” is a wine and culinary event with a twist: Each restaurant will present their fare inspired by a popular storybook. Celebrating the classic stories highlights the organization’s mission to teach Rochester inner city kids how to read and write. The event is next Thursday, March 1 at the Auditorium Theatre.
Event highlights
1 Agathi Georgiou, event coordinator for “Uncork Your Imagination,” said she really believes in this program.
“The more we expand [the program] the more children we can accept,” she said. “It’s a great feeling and such a fun idea.”
2 The wine and culinary event will feature restaurants and wineries from the region, including Tavern58, Lento and Edibles Restaurant and Bar. They’ll fashion their food after the Three Little Pigs and Jack and the Beanstalk. A jazz band will set the mood as actors, including Pittsford’s Eva Mancarella, parade as story book characters.
3 All proceeds from the event, including a Chinese and silent auction, will go toward Mercier Literacy for Children. Roseanne Kulikowski of Brighton has been the director of the program since it began.
“In six years we’ve grown a lot,” she said. “Our summer program has really blossomed. We’d like to expand how many children we have. It’s important for us to improve and establish a culture in the schools we’re in.”
Why you should attend
“The goal is to increase awareness,” Georgiou said. “We’re setting up a booth for the kid’s wishlist as well. I’ve shadowed the children in the program ... and they don’t have other things that they need, like shoes or mittens.”
The program is currently at Public School 9 and other childcare centers in Rochester's poorest neighborhoods.
“It’s huge in the city,” Kulikowski. “It’s in the neediest part, where there is high poverty, high crime, low graduation rates. Were seeing kids that aren’t at grade level.”
About Mercier Literacy for Children
George Mercier founded the program in 2002. The program utilizes NYS certified teachers to provide a formal literacy program to urban students in grades K-6. It includes student assessments, free books and other services in small groups for an after school and summer tutoring programs. The program is delivered in collaboration with Dr. Naomi Erdmann, director of the Graduate Literacy Program at Nazareth College.
