We were able to collect over $800 in cash and checks alone the day of the event, and that’s not even counting the online donations that came in through the website. You can still contribute by visiting their donation page.

The event surpassed our expectations for both the generosity and genuine enthusiasm of those involved.

With that, there are certain people without whom this event would not be possible.

First, a big thanks to our readers: Devon Poniatowski, Holly Cargill-Cramer, Missa Bergin, J. Eric Smith, Greg Floyd, Kaitlin Ressler, Maeve McEneny, Laura Glazer, David Guistina, Kim Dunham, Jenn Balak, Jack McEneny, Benita Zahn, Erik Dollman, Ed Lass, Elaine Houston, Jim Larson, Mary Alice Molgard, Roger Green, James Cronen, Bob Bownes, Bridget McGivern. Megan Gailbraith, John Gallogly, the Hellions of Troy roller derby girls, Steve Ammerman, Lydia Kulbida, Aaron Holbritter, Katherine Stephens, Chris Rooney, Ron Marz, David Marcil, Matthew Dow Smith, and Chuck Miller.

A thank you as well to all the businesses and organizations that contributed prizes and support for the event: The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, Holmes & Watson’s, Bomber’s, Bettie’s Cupcakes, The Wine Bar and Bistro on Lark, The Spectrum, EMPAC (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), Time Warner Cable Business Class, WEXT (97.7FM), All Over Albany, and FridayPuppy.com.

A very special thanks as well to local artist and host of Hello Pretty City, Laura Glazer, who contributed her own time and money to make those wonderful Team Boo, Team Atticus, Team Jem, and Team Scout pins. They were a big hit and actually sold out, with all proceeds going completely to Literacy NY of the Greater Capital Region.

Also to local student and graphic designer Erin Morelli for making that wonderful design you saw everywhere (including this blog post).

Finally, and most importantly, thanks to all of you who simply showed up to the event and gave your time to listen and raise awareness for this cause.

It’s a bittersweet end to what’s been a great experience. Thanks everyone!

Pictures of the event are here courtesy Chuck Miller.

To Kill a Saturday, our marathon reading of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird to raise funds and awareness for Literacy NY of the Greater Capital Region, is today (Saturday, November 6th) from 9:00am until 9:00pm at The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza (click for map & directions).

We have a fantastic lineup of readers, which includes (but isn’t limited to) WRGB’s Greg Floyd, WNYT’s Benita Zahn and Elaine Houston, WTEN’s Lydia Kulbida and Steve Ammerman, Hello Pretty City host Laura Glazer, State Assemblyman Jack McEneny, Comics legend Ron Marz, local artist Matthew Dow Smith, TU bloggers Chuck Miller and Roger Green, IndieAlbany.com’s J. Eric Smith, the Hellions of Troy Roller Derby girls and many many more! The full list is HERE.

In addition, we’ll have a raffle at the event with great prizes from Holmes & Watson’s, Bomber’s, The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, Bettie’s Cupcakes, Wine Bar on Lark, The Spectrum, EMPAC(Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute),  Time Warner Cable Business Class and many many more!

A big thank you as well to WEXT, FridayPuppy.com, All Over Albany, and The Times Union for their help in promoting this event.

Most importantly, we’re trying to raise money for the cause of literacy here in the Capital Region. You can bring cash and check donations with you to the event (all checks made payable to Literacy NY Greater Capital Region), and you can also donate online at organization’s website.

Go and give!

Tomorrow’s the big day. Mockingbird Marathon: To Kill a Saturday is tomorrow at the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza.

The event, as you all know, is being held to raise funds and awareness for Literacy NY of the Greater Capital Region. We’ll be accepting cash and check donations as the event, and you can also donate online here.

In addition we’re going to have a raffle with a great number of prizes, with all proceeds going towards Literacy NY of the Greater Capital Region.

The prizes include:

• gift certificate to Holmes & Watson’s
• gift certificate to Bomber’s
• gift certificates for The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza
• gift certificate to Bettie’s Cupcakes
• gift certificate to the Wine Bar on Lark
• 4 free tickets to The Spectrum
• a gift basket courtesy Time Warner Cable with coupons for free On-Demand movies and more!
• a prize pack courtesy of EMPAC

Thanks to all the businesses above for donating for a very worthy cause. Also to WEXT, Friday Puppy, and all the other organizations that have helped spread the word for this wonderful event.

Which is tomorrow! Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza! Go check it out!

Image courtesy WWAATD

As a reminder, we’ve relocated to The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza in Albany.

The event will run from 9:00am until 9:00pm, and will feature local luminaries, news anchors, bloggers and more! Click here for the full list.

We can also announce that we’ll be holding a raffle at the event to help raise further funds for Literacy NY of the Greater Capital Region.

The awesome prizes include, but are not limited to:

• A Gift Certificate to Bomber’s
• A Gift Certificate for Holmes & Watson’s in Troy
• Four (4) free movie tickets for The Spectrum
• A framed photo courtesy local photographer/blogger Chuck Miller

and much more!

We will be accepting cash and check donations at the event as well. Make all checks out to “Literacy NY Greater Capital Region.”

If you’d like to donate using your credit/debit card, you can do so online HERE.

Also, as a reminder, we have changed venues! The event will now occur at The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, we had to change the location of the event.

“Mockingbird Marathon: To Kill a Saturday” will now be held at The Book House at Stuyvesant Plaza (1475 Western Ave., Albany).

Please note that all other info is still relevant: Saturday, November 6th from 9:00am until 9:00pm or later.

We have updated all information on our site. Please help us spread the word about the change!

Thanks,
Kevin

Hey everyone,

Here’s a sneak peek at the official press release which will go out to media outlets tomorrow morning. Please note that I removed mine and Mary’s contact information to prevent internet bots from spamming the kerfluffle out of us, but if you’d like more information, please feel free to contact us via this page.

If you’d like, feel free to spread the word!

——

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For More Information:

http://mockingbirdmarathon.wordpress.com

Twitter: @ToKillASaturday

Marathon Reading of To Kill a Mockingbird Held to Raise

Funds and Awareness for Literacy

ALBANY, New York – Area luminaries, celebrities, journalists, teachers and students will convene at the Townsend Park Bakery on Saturday, November 6^th and engage in a truly unique activity: reading to each other. The event will be a marathon reading of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and is being held to commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of the novel as well as raise awareness and funds for Literacy NY of the Greater Capital Region. The event starts at 9:00am at The Book House at Stuyvesant Plaza (1475 Western Ave.,) in Albany, New York, and is slated to run until the book is completed later that evening.

“Mockingbird Marathon: To Kill a Saturday” was conceived by All Over Albany editor Mary Darcy and Times Union blogger Kevin Marshall. Both are passionate fans of the book and wanted to do something to celebrate their appreciation for the work while raising awareness for Literacy NY of the Greater Capital Region, which provides tutoring and literacy programs for area residents.

Among the readers are WRGB anchor Greg Floyd, WNYT’s Benita Zahn, WTEN anchors Lydia Kulbida and Steve Ammerman, “Hello Pretty City” host Laura Glazer, local stage actor Aaron Holbritter, State Assemblyman Jack McEneny, comic book writer Ron Marz, WAMC host and producer David Guistina, the Hellions of Troy Roller Derby team, and many more.

There will also be other opportunities to donate and learn more about Literacy NY of the Greater Capital Region, as well as a chance to experience the fire oven-baked bread and pizzas of the Townsend Park Bakery.

Our lineup for our marathon reading of To Kill a Mockingbird on Saturday, November 6th has been finalized.

Each reader will read for approximately twenty minutes, starting at 9:00am and going until we are finished with the book.

The event takes place at The Book House at Stuyvesant Plaza (1475 Western Ave., Albany NY) and will benefit Literacy NY of the Greater Capital Region.

Readers include local journalists, television personalities, bloggers, celebrities, advocates, and regular folk from around the Capital Region.

The full list is below.

• Mary Darcy (All Over Albany)
• Devon Poniatowski
• Holly Cargill-Cramer
• Missa Bergin
• J. Eric Smith (IndieAlbany.com)
• Greg Floyd (WRGB)
• Kaitlin Ressler (AOA, All This Happiness)
• Maeve McEneny
• Laura Glazer (Hello Pretty City, WEXT)
• David Guistina (WAMC)
• Jenn Balak
• Jack McEneny (State Assemblyman, Albany Historian)
• Benita Zahn (WNYT)
• Erik Dollman
• Ed Lass
• Chuck Miller (Times Union blogger)
• Kim Dunham
• Mary Alice Molgard (The College of Saint Rose)
• Roger Green (Times Union blogger)
• James Cronen
• Bob Bownes
• Bridget McGivern
• Megan Gailbraith
• John Gallogly (MANville Co-Host; Voice Actor)
• Members of Hellions of Troy Roller Derby
• Steve Ammerman (WTEN)
• Lydia Kulbida (WTEN)
• Aaron Holbritter (Stage Actor)
• Katherine Stephens
• Chris Rooney (WNYT)
• Ron Marz (Comics Scribe)
• David Marcil (Actor)

Keep an eye on this blog for more blog posts this week, including our official press release as well as some words from our participants and other folks whose lives have been affected by the great work done by Literacy NY.

If you would like to donate, please visit THIS PAGE to contribute online. Checks and cash can be brought to the event itself; please make all checks out to “Literacy NY Greater Capital Region”.

Kevin Marshall here to remind you that we’re just a few short weeks away from “Mockingbird Marathon: To Kill a Saturday” on Saturday (‘natch), November 6th starting at 9:00am.

Luminaries, scholars, students, teachers and personalities from across the Capital Region will take part in a marathon reading of Harper Lee’s classic To Kill a Mockingbird, which celebrated 50 years this year.

More importantly, we’re going to raise awareness and money for Literacy NY of the Greater Capital Region.

To donate online, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

If you would like to donate on the day of the event, we will be accepting cash and check donations. Please make all checks out to Literacy NY Greater Capital Region.

We’ll have updates on readers and other useful and/or fun info as the days tick down. In the meantime, you can pass the time by doing some leisurely reading.

Chuck Miller, TU blogger and one of our readers, writes about his efforts to obtain a replica of the paperback copy he had as a youth.

Roger Green, librarian and another TU blogger, writes about the event and the book on his website.

The elusive and very quiet Harper Lee gives an interview…well, kinda.

As always, be sure to follow on us Twitter (@ToKillASaturday) and check out the event on Facebook.

What is it? It’s a marathon reading of Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird to commemorate the book’s 50th anniversary and raise funds to benefit Literacy Volunteers of the Greater Capital Region (literacynycap.org).

The event will take place on Saturday, November 6th from 9:00am until 9:00pm.

Keep an eye on this blog for more info regarding the event, including announcements and some profiles of our readers, which will include area celebrities, academics, and other area notables.

And be sure to find us on Facebook and Twitter (@ToKillASaturday).