Passion for Fashion Fundraiser for Literacy Features Latest in Fashion from Chico’s FAS and Kitty Green Keynote Speaker”

Bonita Springs, FL – Literacy Council Gulf Coast is hosting its annual Passion for Fashion fundraising event on February 5, 2020 featuring clothes from Chico’s FAS and keynote address by FGCU’s Vice President, University Advancement and Executive Director, FGCU Foundation, Kitty Green. The event will include lunch, a glass of champagne, a fashion show and silent auction featuring some of the best items from across Southwest Florida.
“This fashion show is something the community looks forward to every year,” said Sue Holman, President & CEO of Literacy Council Gulf Coast. “We believe that literacy is the key that unlocks a person’s ability to learn, and our programs are the tools that help them get there. This event supports our programs. And, our students and donors have fun doing it!”
 
“Literacy benefits everyone,” said Holman. “Our economy, our schools, and our society.”
 
Celebrating over 30 years of excellence in education, Literacy Council Gulf Coast (LCGC) helps adults and children acquire the literacy skills necessary to improve their quality of life. Students with effective English language skills are more likely to obtain their GED or continue to higher education, gain meaningful employment, and better provide for their families. With programs offered in GED and U.S. Citizenship preparation, worksite literacy, and family literacy, LCGC serves students across Lee County, North Naples and LaBelle. In 2018-2019, nearly 2,700 students attended Literacy Council classes.
 
Studies show that salaries of adults with below-basic literacy skills are on average $28,000 less than salaries of adults with proficient skills. Read the full Literacy Council Gulf Coast 2019 Impact Report here: http://bit.ly/2019-impact-report.
 
To purchase tickets to the event, please visit: https://passionforfashion.eventbrite.com
 
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About Literacy Council Gulf Coast
The mission of Literacy Council Gulf Coast (LCGC) is to assist adults and children to acquire the English literacy skills and education necessary to improve their quality of life and enhance the entire community. LCGC is a 501©3 nonprofit educational organization committed to improving the English and reading skills of adults and children throughout Lee County, Hendry, and North Collier County, including Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, LaBelle and Naples. The Council was founded in 1989 and has been offering literacy services in southwest Florida for 30 years. LCGC receives no federal, state, or local government funding and relies on the generosity of foundations, and individuals to teach its students.
 
About Kitty Green
Kitty Green serves as Vice President for Advancement and FGCU Foundation Executive Director. She was hired to lead Florida Gulf Coast University’s advancement efforts in June 2019.  She is responsible for the Foundation fundraising team, Alumni Association, University marketing and communications, and WGCU public media.  In making that somewhat untraditional choice, University and Foundation leadership acknowledged the critical role of community support in the growth of FGCU, and cited Kitty’s deep connection to the local business and civic community as well as her proven leadership abilities.
 
A lifelong resident of Fort Myers, Kitty received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in business from the University of South Florida.  She spent 20 years developing master planned communities in Bonita Springs for Westinghouse Communities and Bonita Bay Group, with wide-ranging responsibilities over the years, including marketing, sales, operations, business development and creation of new planned communities.  Her development career culminated as CEO of Bonita Bay Group, where she was responsible for 1,300 employees, seven active master planned communities, and nearly 15,000 future residential units.
 
When the Great Recession devastated the local development industry, Kitty stepped down from the Bonita Bay Group and took the helm of her longtime favorite charity, Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties in 2010.  She rebuilt that organization, taking advantage of the recession by acquiring homes and land at affordable prices, increasing Board engagement, expanding to four ReStores to help generate income for the mission, and helping more than 60 families acquire homes annually.  Habitat Lee/Hendry is in the top 1% of producing affiliates nationally, and held the top Charity Navigator rating for accountability and transparency during her entire tenure.