About 550,000 working age Philadelphians are functionally illiterate. Add to that the recent budget cuts in the Philadelphia school system, and the crisis only gets worse.
Tim Whitaker, a writer and former newspaper and magazine editor, wants to stop the problem now. So in 2009, he created Mighty Writers, a hugely successful non-profit organization that hosts imaginative workshops after school and on weekends where kids learn to write, create and communicate clearly. In fact, the program is so successful, there’s a waiting list of youngsters hoping to attend. These mighty writers make comic books, they write rap songs and they put together videos to tell their own stories. Admission is free but space is limited. Whitaker’s goal is to expand to more Philadelphia neighborhoods, but to do that he needs to raise funds to grow the program.
That’s where Chef Patrick Feury and his partners Henry Chu, Michael Wei and Kenny Huang of Nectar Restaurant in Berwyn come in. They both have kids and they both know the value of a good education. So on Sunday, September 11, 2011, they will host a cocktail party to raise money for Mighty Writers.
Eat. Drink. Read. Write: A Taste for Literacy will feature a veritable smorgasbord of chef Feury’s scrumptious hors d’oeuvres along with a sampling of some of Nectar’s award-winning fruity cocktails. A culinary auction will include one-of-a-kind items like gourmet excursions as well as wine and cooking classes with some of the area’s superstar chefs. It’s a great opportunity to nibble on chef Feury’s Asian inspired cuisine, enjoy Nectar’s cocktail culture and help a group of Philadelphia kids gain an understanding of words that can help them through life.
Tickets to this benefit cost $85. Log onto www.mightywriters.org for more information.
About Nectar Restaurant
From Nectar’s 18′ soaring silk screen Buddha tapestry to its hopping urban chic David Rockwell designed interior, one step inside and you’ll feel more like you’re in Manhattan than on Philadelphia’s Main Line. The restaurant, located at 1091 Lancaster Avenue in Berwyn, PA, features Feury’s East meets West menu created from sustainable seafood, farm-raised meats and fresh ingredients, all locally grown. For more information and reservations, visit www.tastenectar.com or call (610) 725-9000.
