READ Lakeland’s Kiss The Pig  Campaign will kick-off March 5, 2010 with the Pucker-up Rally in Munn Park beginning at 6:30 P.M. during First Friday.  We have eight eager candidates who want to kiss that “real live pig.” They are: Frank Buzzanca (CF Industries), Loretta Cameron (West Area Adult School), Stacy Campbell-Domineck (Polk Works), Michael Folsom (Folsom Construction), Stan Piotrowski (Watson Clinic), Marion Pugh (Patchwork Pig), Anu Saxena (ASC Geosciences, Inc.) Don Selvage (The NCT Group CPA’s).These competitors will be campaigning and raising funds for READ Lakeland’s adult literacy program. READ Lakeland is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving lives through literacy in Lakeland.  Since 1995, READ Lakeland has been serving adults in Lakeland and Polk County who want to improve their reading skills or learn to read.

READ Lakeland offers one-to-one tutoring and small group instruction to help adults in need of assistance in reading, writing, math, and English speaking skills.  ALL of our services are FREE to our learners.

Twenty-four percent of adults in Lakeland are functionally illiterate.  Additionally, another 13% or more are non-English speakers, and this non-English-speaking population continues to grow. Being functionally illiterate as an adult not only severely limits employment opportunities; it makes it impossible for a parent to read to a child, to comprehend medication instructions and precautions, to follow transportation directions, or to accomplish many of the myriad tasks that we readers take for granted.  There is a clear connection between illiteracy and poverty;  Lakeland’s poverty level, at approximately 15%, is higher than the national average of 13%.

Please join us to kick off this great cause!

Any questions please contact Lynda Wolverton (KTP Event Chair) 644-7719, or Beth Hesseltine (Development Director), 619-6796; Beth.Hesseltine@msn.com