Former Mayor Menino to Present Raising A Reader MA's Leadership in Literacy Award to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt President and CEO, Linda K. Zecher

BOSTON – Raising A Reader Massachusetts will honor Linda K. Zecher, President and CEO of global education leader Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) with the Leadership in Literacy Award, at a breakfast event on Tuesday, October 28, at the Westin Copley Place in Boston. The inaugural award recognizes business leaders who inspire through their leadership and utilize their influence to change lives through literacy and learning.

Former Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino will present the award, and will offer his unique perspective on promoting early literacy across the city of Boston, as well as his perspective as a recently published Houghton Mifflin Harcourt author for his new book, “Mayor for a New America.”

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Raising A Reader share a belief in the vital role of literacy in sparking lifelong curiosity and a love of learning. Under Linda’s leadership, HMH upholds its 180-year legacy of quality content and positive impact on learning environments across the globe. The HMH community is committed to addressing the needs of organizations and initiatives like Raising A Reader MA, which helps students of all ages master critical reading, comprehension and communication skills.

Linda joined Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in September 2011 as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, bringing a strong track record of business transformation and results. Her extensive sales, marketing and technology experience have contributed to her success as she guides HMH’s transformation into a global leader in learning content and media.

Raising A Reader MA is an evidence-based early literacy program that helps families of young children (birth through age six) develop, practice, and maintain habits of reading together at home. Raising A Reader MA’s core program increases access to books and offers support for strengthening the culture of reading at home. The model is driven by 25 years of research that shows the most significant factor impacting a child’s academic success is being regularly read to by a parent or other primary adult caregiver before starting kindergarten.

Raising A Reader MA’s goal is to end the cycle of low literacy by helping families across Massachusetts develop high impact home reading routines that lay the groundwork for a lifetime of learning, success, and productive, responsible citizenship.

For more information, to place an ad or buy tickets, contact Mike Navisky at mike@raisingareaderma.org or 617.292.2665.

-30-