Beyond Basics, a premier literacy nonprofit, proudly presents its upcoming gala, Coming Together for Children, on Friday, March 14 at the Townsend Hotel, 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, MI. With the generous support of Presenting Sponsors Discount Tire and Literacy Champions Globe Midwest Adjusters International and The Torgow Family, this inspiring event will celebrate visionary leaders from the sports, private education, and public sectors who have empowered students through literacy and helped them achieve reading proficiency. The categories and their honorees are:

Literacy Game Changers in Sports Partnerships
• Claude Molinari, president and CEO, Visit Detroit & Detroit Sports Commission
• Steven K. Hamp, Detroit Lions

Advocates for Literacy in Private Education
• Brian Broderick, executive director, MANS
• DeLois Spryszak, principal, Gesu Catholic School
• Kristina Martinez-Precious, principal, San Juan Diego Academy

Lighting the Way for Juvenile Literacy
• Madiha Tariq, MPH, deputy county executive, Oakland County
• Honorable Namita Sharma, 9th Circuit Court presiding judge -Family Division
• Barbara Hankey, director, Public Services, Oakland County
• Laura Draper, principal, Kalamazoo RESA Intensive Learning Center

“Beyond Basics is thrilled to recognize these individuals for their efforts to combat illiteracy, which has become a national epidemic,” says Pamela Good, president and CEO of Beyond Basics. “Our honorees understand that it takes consistent student-centered focus to make a real impact in increasing reading scores. Together we can raise literacy rates in our communities, our state and nation.”

Beyond Basics is proud to announce the following sponsors for the event:

• Literacy Partners: Farbman Group/Healthrise; and Mass Mutual

• Literacy Allies: Hour Media; MGM; Kotz Sangster; and Ram Construction Services

• Literacy Advocates: Benepro; Butzel Long; Giroux Pappas; Kurowski Giving Fund; Oakland County; and SG Cares.

The annual gala includes 5:30 p.m. cocktails and networking followed by 7 p.m. dinner and program. Tickets are available for purchase here. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Katie Nienstedt at (248) 321-0448, Nienstedt@beyondbasics.org.