Brooke Jackman Foundation and SAG Foundation BookPALS Support Children’s Literacy in Washington Heights with Holiday Reading led by Actress Kimberly Marable
New York, NY (PRWEB) December 19, 2013 -- The Brooke Jackman Foundation (BJF), a children’s literacy organization that has donated more than 200,000 books to children and families in need since its founding in 2001, and the Screen Actors Guild Foundation BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools), its signature children’s literacy program through which 2,200 SAG-AFTRA performers read to 60,000 children in schools, hospitals and social service agencies every month, partnered to host a dramatic holiday reading on December 18th with children and families at the YM & YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood. Actress Kimberly Marable, who recently finished ‘raising her voice’ in song as Deloris Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg’s role) in Sister Act on tour, led the theatrical reading.
Following the reading, the Brooke Jackman Foundation distributed children’s books to each of the children in attendance and donated over 200 additional books to the YM & YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood.
“The holiday season evokes the same energy and spirit of giving that my sister, Brooke carried with her all year round,” said Erin Jackman, executive director of the Brooke Jackman Foundation. “We are excited to once again put books in the hands of local children and gift a love of literacy that will last a lifetime.”
“Our readers do a fantastic job of bringing books to life for children, and the SAG Foundation BookPALS are delighted to provide critical literacy programming to those who need it most this holiday season,” said Jill Seltzer, executive director of the SAG Foundation.
For more information, please visit http://www.brookejackmanfoundation.org.
About the Brooke Jackman Foundation
The Brooke Jackman Foundation was created in 2001 to honor Brooke Jackman, a bright and compassionate 23-year-old who was killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks before achieving her dream of becoming a social worker. Brooke was an avid reader, and her passion and commitment to literacy and helping children spurred the Jackman family to create BJF as her living legacy – turning tragedy and despair into hope for a better world. Since 2001, the Brooke Jackman Foundation has donated nearly 200,000 books and over 20,000 Brooke Packs, backpacks filled with books and school supplies, to children and families in need. BJF has established four libraries, as well as a number of after-school literacy programs, in all five boroughs, including homeless shelters and Family Justice Centers for victims of domestic violence and crime in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. The annual September Brooke Jackman Foundation Read-a-thon celebrates the resiliency of New York and its children.
About the Screen Actors Guild Foundation
The Screen Actors Guild Foundation provides vital assistance and educational programming to the professionals of SAG-AFTRA while serving the public at large through its signature children’s literacy programs. Founded in 1985, the Screen Actors Guild Foundation is a national non-profit organization, independent from SAG-AFTRA, that relies solely on support from grants, corporate sponsorships, and individuals to maintain its programs and create new ones. Visit http://www.sagfoundation.org.
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