Lincoln Center was the scene for over 500 guests attending the annual Evening of Readings and Gala Dinner Dance to raise critical funds for Literacy Partners. Chairs Liz Smith, Arnold Scaasi and Parker Ladd (who were stuck in Palm Beach and could not attend), and Jacqueline Weld Drake welcomed the crowd as they arrived in style (reading glasses included!) to honor Louise and Leonard Riggio and Barnes & Noble for their longtime philanthropy and support of the organization. The evening included presentations by best-selling author of 23 novels Michael Connelly, Katie Couric, Whoopi Goldberg, and Stacy Schiff. "All Readers Are Leaders" was the motto of the evening, which raised $1.1 mil to help support programs that will teach almost 2,000 disadvantaged New Yorkers how to read and succeed!