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A luncheon to benefit Read to Grow, a statewide literacy nonprofit, was held Nov. 12 at the Hartford Marriott Downtown and raised nearly $10,000.

• Featured speaker Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC’s Hardball and NBC’s The Chris Matthews Show discussed his bestselling biography “Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero,” just released in paperback. He will also discuss the importance of literacy in America.

• Connecticut residents Ted Kennedy, Jr., a healthcare lawyer and advocate for people with disabilities, and his wife Kiki Kennedy, MD, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Yale University and an environmental advocate served as honorary co-chairs of the event.

• “We are proud, longtime supporters of Read to Grow,” said Kiki and Ted Kennedy, Jr. “We are honored that journalist Chris Matthews will share his insights on President Kennedy and support this extraordinary organization. A prolific lifetime reader and advocate of early childhood literacy, President Kennedy once said, ‘Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource.’ Read to Grow works tirelessly to enrich young children’s minds.”

NEW HAVEN, CT – (Sept. 20, 2012) – Today Read to Grow, Inc., a literacy nonprofit based in Branford, honored Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Yale New Haven Health System, represented by CEO Marna P. Borgstrom, for their commitment to early literacy. The celebration was held at a luncheon at the New Haven Lawn Club.

• “We were thrilled to host the governor in a lively conversation about the impact of literacy on health and poverty,” said Anthony L. DiLauro, executive director of Read to Grow, Inc. “We believe we can help break the cycle of low literacy and poverty by giving books to babies and kids and reminding parents that they are their child’s first and most important teacher.”

• Read to Grow founder Roxanne J. Coady interviewed the governor and Borgstrom about the impact of literacy on poverty and health and what steps the governor has taken since his election to office to increase early literacy and education reform.

• Read to Grow also launched its new children’s book, written by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace of Branford and illustrated by Marsela Hajadinijak-Krec of Croatia, which is currently being given to new parents on the maternity units of partner hospitals. Welcome to the World! celebrates families and babies learning together and paves the way for future learning and brain development.
  “I am so pleased that Read to Grow has worked with new families on the maternity floors of Yale-New Haven Hospital since 1999,” Borgstrom said. “The books and literacy information they provide are an invaluable resource. Congratulations on the publication of Welcome to the World!, a charming book that reinforces the message to talk, play, sing and read to your baby.”