FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 21, 2010, Portland, OR

Contact:  Nancy Ellis, Wordstock Director of Development and Marketing
503.549.7925
nancy@wordstockfestival.com

Wordstock Raises $100,000 for its Education Programs

“Writing skills are at the core of our character as a nation. Improving those skills is the mission of Wordstock for Kids, and that’s why we support the organization.”

— Tim Boyle, CEO, Columbia Sportswear

Jack Ramsay and Bill Shaughnassey were among 200 guests at Wordstock’s Literary Feast and Book Release Party on Friday, October 8, 2010 at The Governor Hotel in Portland, OR.  Sponsored by Bill & Gail McCormick of McCormick & Schmick’s, the event was co-hosted by Wordstock’s Board of Directors and members of the Wordstock Founder’s Club, including Tim & Mary Boyle, Frank & Mary Gill, Norm & Ricki Daniels, and Dan Wieden.  Larry Colton, who founded Wordstock in 1997 as Community of Writers, was celebrated for the release of his long-overdue new book, No Ordinary Joes, the Extraordinary True Story of Four Submariners in War and Love and Life.

Colton was joined onstage by Barbara Palmer, the 90 year-old widow of one of Colton’s subjects, and by Ron Shelton, the Hollywood writer and director, who offered up for auction a walk-on role in his next movie or a private screening of one of his films (Bull Durham, Tin Cup, White Men Can’t Jump).  “A Day in the Life of a Big-Time New York Literary Agent and Editor”, provided by Colton’s agent Richard Pine and editor Sydny Pine (also present), was another of the unique experiences auctioned off by the lively Steve Dorsey and Wordstock’s glamorous event chair, Kerry McClenahan.  Guests also enjoyed a cocktail hour with entertainment by Mary Kadderly, Peter Sears, Walidah Imarisha, and John Breen’s sketch comedy group Sweat.

The highlight of the evening was Teresa, a third-grader in the David Douglas School District, reading her “I am from” poem.  Teresa’s teacher, Rand Raynor, is among 1,600 teachers who have benefited from Colton’s founding program, now called Wordstock for Teachers, an accredited professional development program that teaches teachers how to write.

Organizers currently estimate that the event raised over $100,000 to benefit Colton’s founding vision for Wordstock, a non-profit literary art and education organization that celebrates and supports writing in the classroom and in the community.  The Wordstock Book and Literary Festival, another brainchild of Colton’s, now in its sixth year, took place October 7 – 10, 2010.  Events included a special Wordstock edition of Mortified and live recordings of Live Wire!, plus the two-day book fair at the Oregon Convention Center, featuring over 200 local, regional and national authors.

- view the online gallery of photos from the event © Andie Petkus Photography