An annual tribute to the many community partners that help LINC to raise readers across New York City. On the eve of Valentine’s Day 2020, Literacy Inc. (LINC) held our annual We Love Our Community Partners Celebration at ViacomCBS, and it could not have been more timely. Love was in the air and you could feel it from the heartfelt speeches of corporate and nonprofit partners, our board, staff and parent volunteers. Supporters, guests, volunteers, board members and staff gathered together to celebrate the contributions of the many partners that support LINC’s goal of raising little readers across all boroughs of New York City. This celebration also serves as an opportunity to award and acknowledge those partners that go above and beyond their partnership commitment.

Congratulations to this year’s honorees: LINC Corporate Partner Award: ViacomCBS LINC Community Partner Award : Children’s Aid Mimi Levin Lieber Award BMS Family Health and Wellness Center Board Award Jacqueline Kaiko, LINC Board Treasurer At the core of our model is the mobilization of community assets and resources in support of families so that children can benefit from the high visibility of reading in their local communities. It is with the consistent support of our partners and board members that LINC harnesses the power that exists in every community to make literacy a right of all children. As LINC’s Founder, Mimi Levin Lieber so aptly put it, “we are organizations with shared goals and it is together that we make an impact.” Our work would not be possible without an entire network of partners. This year alone, over 150 community partners have tirelessly advocated for our efforts to build a culture where reading is valued and thanks to these partnerships, LINC is able to equip families with the resources and tools they need to incorporate literacy-development in their daily routine. Families are empowered. Children are equipped to start school ready to learn. For LINC, T.I.G.E.R. means Together in Getting Everyone Reading and that is exactly what we do when we collaborate. During “We Love Our Community Partners Celebration,” parent volunteers, staff and board members shared their stories and the room lit up as the ceremony concluded. Inwood community resident, Alannah Halliday, passionately sang LINC’s famous T.I.G.E.R. song, an adaptation of Katy Perry’s “ Hear Me Roar.” Our T.I.G.E.R. music video with children singing played in the background, inspiring everyone to join the singing. Some people were moved to tears! LINC is grateful to have a robust network of committed partners who enable us to do the work day in and day out. We are eternally grateful and inspired by their commitment to build and sustain a culture where reading is highly valued. To learn more about LINC or to become a community partner, contact: Emily Gertz, egertz@lincnyc.org To become a corporate partner, please contact Chabely Ramos at 212-620-5462, ext. 124 or cramos@lincnyc.org .