originally published: 03/19/2025

Literature to Life (LTL) will host Spring Benefit events in both New York City and Washington, D.C., featuring live performances, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, and more. The proceeds from both events will benefit the organization's extensive work in schools and help Literature to Life expand educational opportunities for NYC- and D.C.-area students. The Washington, D.C. event will take place on Monday, April 28 at the Edlavitch Jewish Community Center and the New York City event will take place on Monday, May 12 at Scandinavia House.

Tickets to both events are available for purchase online. Tickets for the NYC event start at $175pp, and tickets for the D.C. event start at $250pp. Additional donations to support Literature to Life’s work in schools are always appreciated; attendees can make additional contributions through the webpage.

LTL is a performance-based literacy organization that presents professionally staged verbatim adaptations of American literary classics. The organization’s mission is to perform great books that inspire young people to read and become authors of their own lives. Founded as the educational program of the American Place Theatre more than three decades ago, LTL is now an independent 501c3 organization that carries forward the legacy of founder Wynn Handman, who championed American writers of diverse backgrounds as “voices worth hearing.”

Now under the direction of Co-Founding Artistic Director Elise Thoron and Executive Director Lisa Beth Vettoso, LTL continues in its mission to bring great books to the stage and performs nationally in schools, libraries, performing arts centers, and correctional facilities.

LTL’s Wynn Handman Partnership Program provides access to subsidized, high-quality arts programming to schools throughout New York City. The goal for these two upcoming benefits is to raise $30,000 in support of the program in New York City, as well as continuing to expand into Washington, D.C. schools.

“Each year, our Spring Benefit helps us raise much-needed funds to support our work in both New York City and Washington, D.C. schools,” says Executive Director Lisa Beth Vettoso. “This year, we increased our school partnerships by more than 30%, bringing subsidized programming into 9 schools across New York City. This is all thanks to the generosity of our donors. Becoming an independent organization this past year was an incredible achievement, and allows us to continue to expand our reach even further. This is a wonderful time to be part of the LTL community. We hope you will join us in support of this great organization and even greater cause!”

MONDAY, APRIL 28 at 6:00PM - WASHINGTON, D.C. | EDLAVITCH JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER. The D.C. event will include cocktail hour, hors d'oeuvres, and a complete performance of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez.

MONDAY, MAY 12 at 6:00PM - NEW YORK CITY | Scandinavia House. The NYC event will include cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction, live music, guest speakers, and a selection from I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez.

They hope that you can join them for one (or both!) events, but if you cannot, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution of any size here.

Literature to Life is a performance-based literacy organization that presents professionally staged verbatim adaptations of American literary classics. Its mission is to perform great books to inspire young people to read and become authors of their own lives. Founded as the educational program of the American Place Theatre more than three decades ago, LTL carries forward the legacy of founder Wynn Handman, who championed American writers of diverse backgrounds as “voices worth hearing.” Now under the leadership of LTL co-founding Artistic Director Elise Thoron and Executive Director Lisa Beth Vettoso, this mighty collective of artists and educators brings the voices of diverse authors to thousands of students and audiences nationwide, giving them the tools to become the empowered “voices worth hearing” of our future.