Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Operating Read USA Inc. is hosting its annual Author Dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 12 to celebrate its 29th year in the community.
The event will be at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds Shrine Building, 1400 E. Smith St., Warsaw.
The dinner provides an occasion to bring great talent to the community and help fund local literacy services, according to a news release from Operation Read.
The celebrity author is Wendi Lou Lee, who portrayed Baby Grace in the “Little House on the Prairie” series starring Michael Landon. “The Little House” series was based on the books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder about a young girl’s perspective of her and her family’s struggles to live on the wilds of the prairie.
Lee has written and published two books, “A Prairie Devotional” and her most recent book “Red Tail Feathers.” She will speak on her experience with “Little House on the Prairie,” her continued relationship with the cast/crew and how she has experienced grace in everyday life. Lee had many traumatic experiences that will touch the hearts of all attending, according to the release. She will have a limited number of books for sale at the event.
Silent auction items and baskets include a “Little House on the Prairie” basket with signed cast memorabilia, a bourbon basket, book lovers basket, wine basket, coffee and chocolate basket and an afternoon tea basket. Four hand-made machine-quilted lap quilts will be available for the silent auction. Several original and historic paintings were donated for the silent auction.
Registrations are due Oct. 9 to provide numbers to the caterer. General admission Friends Circle tickets are $64.99 each. Supporter Circle tickets are $74.99 each and include priority seating and access for book signing. VIP Champion Circle tickets are $99.95 each and include VIP parking, VIP seating, first access to book signing, priority food service and first access to silent auction items. A VIP Gold Gala Circle is available for a table of six at $579.95 total (same items as Champion but for six people).
There are four ways to register: Mail a check to Operation Read, P.O. Box 796, Warsaw, IN 46581; register and pay at www.operationreadusa.org/authordinner/register; email deeanna@operationreadusa.org; or call 574-529-5783. If not picked up, leave a message and the call with be returned as soon as possible.
Operation Read offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the email is monitored 14 hours daily. If interested in sponsorship, email or call for pricing information.
Operation Read fosters literacy from birth to 100 years old in Kosciusko County. Operation Read USA, Inc. is an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated with the Secretary of State of Indiana. Their mission is to “encourage the lifelong love of learning through reading.” Operation Read is governed by a volunteer board of directors. Grants, corporate and individual donors, and fundraising efforts provide critical support for the literacy programs provided. For more information on Operation Read, visit www.operationreadusa.org or call the executive director at 574-529-5783.
