Location: Post Oak Uptown Hotel

Houston nonprofit, iWRITE Literacy Organization, held its second annual Lucky for Literacy – Bubbles and Bingo Luncheon on Friday April 26  at The Post Oak Hotel to raise awareness and funds for children’s literacy. Literacy advocates, Deborah Duncan & Donae Chramosta chaired the event, while Steve Lewis, an Investment Advisor joined as the Bingo Caller. Guests in attendance had a chance to support iWRITE throughout eight games of bingo while winning fabulous prizes. Guests were encouraged to create themes for their table and dress it accordingly. The best dressed table prize went to Arielle Lawson and guests for a table themed “Iconic Women” which featured books by famous women throughout history. Guests at the winning table came fully dressed in costume representing some of the iconic women such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Frida Kahlo, Wonder Woman and more.

The event was attended by 250 guests from all parts of Houston and the total funds raised was $85,000. Proceeds will support iWRITE’S annual programming such as their creative writing and publishing workshops in Houston schools. The two major programs at iWRITE include the annual short-story contest, I Write Short Stories by Kids for Kids Writing Contest and the “i” The Guy Journal Writing Program.

“For nine years iWRITE has helped young students become published authors and provided writing programs to students across the Houston area,” said Melissa Williams Murphy, children’s author and founder of iWRITE. “This year’s spring luncheon was a fun way to raise awareness of our mission and our fall event that honors students for their writing accomplishments.”

During the event there was a call for scholarship donations and guests stood up to provide financial support for 15 students, which will enable them to attend the iWRITE Creative Writing Summer Camp at no cost. Additionally, iWRITE partnered with KPMG Family for Literacy to provide books to all of the students at the Youth Development Center signed by each of the guests in attendance.

Guests included Chita Craft, Kara Vidal, Maria Morales, Malaika Mukor, Alicia Smith, Pilar Colvin, Ericka Bagwell, Yvonne Stern, Stephanie Tsuru, Arielle Lawson, Brenda Stardig, Judge Bonnie Hellums, Tena Lundquist Faust, Tama Lundquist, Sylvia Quan, Maris Castro, Debbie Pakzaban, Mehrnaz Gill, Donatella Benckenstein, and more. Poor Donae, Chairman of this fantastic event, couldn’t be there due to an emergency appendectomy! She’s better now thank goodness.

ABOUT IWRITE LITERACY ORGANIZATION:

Founded in 2009 by children’s author and public speaker, Melissa Williams Murphy, iWRITE Literacy Organization has embarked on a mission to bring the fun back into learning through literacy. The organization works with students to learn the writing process and create their own stories with the chance to become published each year at iWRITE. Programs include the annual short-story contest, I Write Short Stories by Kids for Kids Writing Contest, the Youth Club and the “i” The Guy Journal Writing Program.

To learn more about iWRITE, please visit https://iwrite.org.

All photos by Quy Tran Photography

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