Laugh for Literacy brings together hundreds of volunteers, friends and neighbors for an evening of theater, food and friendship to benefit adult literacy. Guests enjoy a fun theater night while feasting on fabulous Spanish tapas from Emilio's Tapas Restaurant in Hillside and delectable deserts.

OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO OUR 2011 "TONY AWARD" SPONSORS:
EMILIO'S TAPAS RESTAURANT in Hillside
LINNEA JEWELERS
ARTHUR HARRIS AND COMPANY
ROBERT CONSENTINO, ATTORNEY AT LAW
BARBARA BERNHARD
COMMUNITY BANK OF WHEATON / GLEN ELLYN

TO SEE MORE 2012 SPONSORS, CLICK HERE // TO SEE MORE 2012 PICTURES, CLICK HERE // // HOME

Emilio Gervilla, owner of Emilio's Tapas in Hillside was the restaurant sponsor of Laugh for Literacy for the third year. His award-winning appetizers and desserts are as amazing as his generosity in his support of adult literacy. Emilio and his wife, Ann Marie, have been serving the best Spanish tapas in the Midwest for 24 years.	Karen Roche, of Western Springs, addresses the audience after receiving the 2012 Gratitude Award in recognition of 14 years of extraordinary dedication as a volunteer tutor, helping adults learn to speak, read and write English for School and Tutors on Wheels. She was honored for her extraordinery creativity and passion for her students and adult literacy.	Maria de los Angeles Lopez, of Hodskins, thanks the supporters of School and Tutors on Wheels at after receiving the Student Success Award. “Thank you for making us feel important,” was her message to the volunteer tutors. Because (of you) I have a good job, and now I feel confident.”
Laugh for Literacy started in 2010 as a theater event that brought supporters of adult literacy together for a night of fun, food and theater entertainment while helping to raise much-needed funds needed to keep the free School and Tutors on Wheels literacy program operating in suburban Cook and Du Page counties. Laugh for Literacy 2012 left 300 guests laughing and feeling good about their support of iteracy.		Guests toured the School on Wheels bus stationed outside the Theatre of Western Springs before the play.

School and Tutors on Wheels Award Winners at Laugh for Literacy 2012 Pictures

As Karen Roche took center stage at the Theater of Western Springs when School and Tutors on Wheels held its third annual Laugh for Literacy theater benefit, the competitive ballroom dancer received more applause than a Dancing with the Stars contestant. With a talent for using her creativity not just on the dance floor, but also for helping adults learn valuable English literacy skills, Roche received our organization’s annual Gratitude Award for her inspiring performance as a volunteer tutor for the past 14 years.

38-year-old Maria de Angeles Lopez, a former student who now works at Ideal Learning School in Countryside, Ill., received the Student Success Award for the achievements she made in improving her communication, reading and writing skills and becoming a U.S. citizen. The awards presentation was the highlight of an night that featured Eugene O’Neill’s comedy Ah, Wilderness! and a spectacular banquet of food from the award-winning Spanish restaurant, Emilio’s Tapas Restaurant in Hillside. Not to be outdone in generosity, the sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph made 65 dozen cookies, led by Sister Julie Cannon, CSJ, who co-chaired the event committee. SEE THE 2012 PICTURES HERE