The Literacy Project's largest fundraiser, its 10th Annual Luncheon with guest speaker Helen Thorpe, journalist, author and First Lady of Colorado, is fast approaching. On Aug. 29 at the Westin Riverfront, Thorpe will discuss her book, “Just Like Us: The True Story of Four Mexican Girls Coming of Age in America,” and the importance of literacy education.

“Our annual luncheon is our biggest fundraiser of the year. Our silent auction includes gift certificates from such businesses as Bol, Roxy, Church and State Optics, Colorado Zipline Adventures, golf packages, and an eyelift procedure from Mangat Plastic Surgery Center. We are excited to host Helen Thorpe as she is a veteran reporter and an entertaining storyteller,” says Literacy Project Executive Director Colleen Gray. “These fundraisers help us continue to offer our programs for free to the community.”

Tickets for the luncheon can be purchased online at www.literacyprojecteaglecounty.org or by calling 970-949-5026. A silent auction begins at 11:30 p.m., with lunch at 12:15 p.m.

The Literacy Project is wrapping up a busy summer of programming. Programs included Reading Buddies, a collaboration with Eagle Valley Library District providing 40 elementary and high-school reading/mentoring opportunities; Reading on the Go, a middle school summer literacy program for 60 at-risk students; and Family Literacy, an emergent literacy program for 80 children and their parents.

Upcoming for the school year is the continuation of the Study Friends program. One of the original Literacy Project programs that trains volunteers to tutor one-on-one with middle school students in school during the day or after school at an area library.

Currently, more than 125 volunteers help support literacy education through ESL (English as a second language) classes and one-on-one tutoring for both adults and middle school students. These valuable programs are provided free to the students and funded by grants, donations and fundraising.