“Reading and Beyond” will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a dinner gala and fundraiser, “Whatever It Takes,” at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at the Fresno Convention Center (848 M St). Geoffrey Canada, founder and director of Harlem Children’s Zone in New York City, will be the featured keynote speaker. The program partners with Fresno State’s Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning to help children improve literacy skills. Through the Fresno State Reading and Beyond Program (formerly Fresno READS), college students serve as mentors and tutors for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Individual seats for the gala are $80 and table sponsorships are $1,000. Purchase seats.INFO: Jenny Brietigam, 559.600.6189.
