Submitted photo
Telling Tales supporters and representatives from local literacy programs gather for the cheque presentations. Back row, from left, Sandra Jennis, Philip Winer, Robert Blunsdon, Sandra McCallum, Rose Pocsai, Kathy Starodub, Lisa Kiriakopoulo, Gerry Willard, Laura Lukasik and Susan Jasper. Front row: Evette Sauriol, Dean Younger, June Dickenson, Alysson Wenzowski, Rose Johnson, Laura Levaque and Michael Scime.
Over the past three years, Telling Tales: A Family Festival of Stories has raised more than $50,000 to support Hamilton-based literacy projects.
This year, $5,000 will be distributed to Early Literacy Hamilton and the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Rotary Summer Literacy Program, along with $4,000 to Hamilton Literacy Council’s Literacy and Basic Skills Program.
Festival founder Susan Jasper said because Telling Tales is such a huge volunteer effort, with lots of generous in-kind contributors, Telling Tales is able to reach hundreds more children through the festival’s support of vital literacy projects.
“This makes for a very satisfying end to our 2011 campaign,” she said.
More than 20 Canadian authors, illustrators, storytellers and musicians entertained about 6,000 people during the third Telling Tales event at Westfield Heritage Village in September.
