BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Better Basics, a nonprofit agency dedicated to improving literacy through school-day, afterschool, and summer learning programs for at-risk children, commemorated its twentieth anniversary with the Celebrate 20 in ’14 dinner on Thursday, February 20, at The Club in Homewood.
Almost 400 people attended the event which honored the people, agencies, corporations, and foundations that have played significant roles in the growth of Better Basics in the organization’s 20 years history.
The Celebrate 20 in ’14 event raised almost $70,000 to support Better Basics’ full range of literacy programs in area public schools. Last year, Better Basics served more than 19,000 students and gave away almost 40,000 books to children who might not otherwise have books in their homes
“We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of community support we received for the 20 in 14 event,” said Karen Kapp the Executive Director for Better Basics. “It was a wonderful evening celebrating the achievements of the hundreds of thousands of children Better Basics has served throughout the past 20 years.”
Former NBA and University of Alabama basketball star, Ennis Whatley was the featured speaker. Ennis is a graduate of Phillips High School in Birmingham who led The University of Alabama’s basketball team to a Sweet 16 appearance in the 1982 NCAA Tournament before playing 10 seasons in the NBA. Now an inspirational speaker, he struggled through school until college, when he discovered the importance of reading and education. His message of overcoming illiteracy truly resonated with the mission of Better Basics.
Better Basics provides literacy intervention, enrichment programs and educational opportunities for elementary- and middle-school students throughout Alabama. These programs empower students as they progress along the learning continuum, from reading to comprehension to retention, while infusing literature into their homes and exposing them to multi-cultural arts and enrichment programs. Based in Birmingham, Ala., Better Basics is a recognized authority on childhood literacy. For more information, please visit www.betterbasics.org.
