Our Story
Since 1973, Literacy Partners has supported tens of thousands of adults, parents, and caregivers in advancing the literacy skills they and the children in their lives need to thrive.
History
Founding Members
History
1970’s
From the start, Literacy Partners has emphasized support for individuals excluded from education because of racial or ethnic segregation and discrimination, economic challenges, sexism, or immigration status. Our first programs were based on one-on-one tutoring by volunteers. Gradually, the organization developed curriculum for its classes that supported our adult students in navigating the social barriers to literacy.
1980’s
In 1986, Literacy Partners held its first annual gala. Since then, the Literacy Partners gala continues to be one of the most celebrated annual social events in New York, raising millions to support our programming.
1990’s
With growing awareness of the toll of illiteracy, during the 1990s the organization grew significantly, collaborating with early childhood programs and supporting women in gaining the reading, writing, and math skills they would need in the workforce. In 1995, the organization officially acquired its existing name, instead of the original Literacy Volunteers of New York City.
2010’s
In the 2010s Literacy Partners adopted its research-based two-generation approach to advancing literacy. This included emphasizing the literacy and language skills that adults need to achieve their goals in today’s world, while integrating important insights into child development so they can better promote their children’s literacy development. This approach creates long term impact by both solving today’s problem and going upstream to prevent tomorrow’s from occurring.
2020’s
Today, Literacy Partners serves communities across the country. Our innovative approach includes educational media, community workshops, and intensive classes. As we build the literacy capacity of adults, parents, and caregivers, we also provide them with a home library of culturally-relevant children’s books. Thus, we directly address two of the biggest drivers of children’s early literacy skills and school readiness: how often they are read to by an adult, and how many books they own.
We continue to work towards a world in which everyone has the literacy skills necessary to create social and economic opportunities for themselves, their children, and their communities.
Join us.
Founding Members
In tribute to Liz Smith, Arnold Scaasi, and Parker Ladd
Carol Jenkins, the legendary television journalist and women’s rights advocate, introduced Liz Smith to Literacy Partners in the mid-1980s. Carol had produced a multi-part news report on the crisis of adult literacy and had joined the Board of Literacy Partners. Liz was astonished at what she learned in Carol’s report. Thus began Liz’s lifelong personal commitment to support communities through the power of literacy education.
Liz had a career spanning close to 70 years – working for nine New York newspapers and numerous magazines. Her column was syndicated into dozens of newspapers across the country, and her work was also widely read online at The New York Social Diary and Huffington Post, among others. She also had an 11-year stint doing celebrity commentary on WNBC’s “Live at Five,” winning an Emmy in 1985, and was the undeniable star of Fox 5’s “Good Day New York.”
Liz made Literacy Partners her mission, but she never did it alone. A few years into her work with Literacy Partners, Liz recruited her dear friends, Parker Ladd and Arnold Scaasi. She knew that Parker would be a natural fit for Literacy Partners as a giant of the publishing industry and a lover of books and reading. With Arnold and Liz by his side, Parker was instrumental in the success of the Evening of Readings Annual Gala, the organization’s well-known annual fundraiser.
Among the world’s foremost fashion designers, Arnold Scaasi had profound compassion for people who had little because they couldn’t read. Arnold dressed four First Ladies and his designs were beloved by dozens of movie and television stars. Arnold joined the Literacy Partners Board of Directors in 1993 as the charismatic cohost of the annual gala – with Liz, his dear friend, and Parker, his husband and the love of his life of more than 50 years.
Through this trio’s tireless efforts, they advanced literacy and opened new opportunities for tens of thousands of families.
