Houston, TX, September 25– On Saturday, November 1 at 9 a.m., the Houston non-profit literacy organization, READ3Zero, will honor students nationwide at a memorable Luncheon and Book Signing event for this year’s winners of the “I Write” contest and celebrate the organization’s fifth anniversary. The Awards Ceremony will offer individual recognition in the form of a certificate of excellence to each student author and illustrator followed by the Literacy Luncheon and Book Signing with keynote speaker, Neil Bush, chairman to the Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation, emceed by Deborah Duncan of Great Day Houston. The luncheon will be held at the Hilton Americas located at 1600 Lamar Street, Houston, TX 77010. “This year we will offer a majestic experience to our young authors at a luncheon specially created to commemorate their success,” said Melissa M. Williams, Children’s Author and Founder of READ3Zero. “For five years our foundation has helped young students become published authors, and we can’t wait to celebrate with the city of Houston, parents, literacy advocates, and more; the commitment we have for students and their development in reading and writing.” The Editor’s Choice Recipient this year will read their short story or poem to the audience followed by a book signing in which all the authors and illustrators will sign their newly published books. This event is scheduled to close at 1:00 pm. Founded in 2009 by children’s author and public speaker, Melissa M. Williams, READ3zero has embarked on a mission to help share aspects of the literacy and publishing world, influencing the lives of children to learn outside the classroom. One of the primary creative projects at READ3Zero is the annual short-story contest, which emphasizes the concept that reading and writing go hand in hand. Children are also allowed to submit drawings for the front and back cover of the book. “I’m excited about recognizing this outstanding group of students this fall. It’s amazing what can happen when the community rallies around our youth to encourage creativity and literacy,” said Williams. Organizations, businesses and community members are able to help fund the efforts of READ3Zero by contributing support for future projects. Information regarding ways to support READ3Zero and the “I Write” Contest and other programs can be found on the organization’s homepage: www.READ3Zero.org. This anthology is available for purchase to the public using standard publishing channels, such as bookstores, direct purchase through the foundation: READ3Zero and online retailers, such as Amazon.com. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: 9:30am: Award Ceremony for Authors and Illustrators 10:00 am: Underwriter Reception: Meet and Greet with Published Authors & Illustrators 10:00 am: Silent Auction & Guest Illustrator, Ryan Shaw. (2nd Floor Lobby of the Ballroom) 11:00 am: Luncheon Program Speakers will include: Neil Bush (chairman to the Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation), Deborah Duncan and this year’s Editor’s Choice Recipient. Our 5 Star Authors will be announced for the first time. All of our authors and illustrators will be recognized. 12:30 pm: Book Signing 1:00pm Silent Auction Closes

Student Honorees

Authors Aidan Perry, Sugar Mill Elementary / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas Alyssa Reid, Creekwood Middle School / Humble ISD, Houston, Texas Ana Guerra, Kinkaid School / Houston, Texas Benjamin Carpenter, Sugar Land Middle School / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas Chase Greer, Texas Tech University ISD Chloe Williams, Sugar Mill Elementary / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas Claire Jones, Homeschool / Houston, Texas Collin Foley, Pottsgrove Middle School / Wortham ISD, Pottstown, Pennsylvania Dakota Widenor, Wortham Middle School / Wortham ISD, Wortham, Texas Daniel Hoang, Sugar Mill Elementary / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas Douglas Taylor, CyFalls High School / Cypress Fairbanks ISD, Houston, Texas Emily Green, Aragon Middle School / Cypress Fairbanks ISD, Houston, Texas Emma Appler, Wilson West Middle School / Wilson SD, West Lawn, Pennsylvania Fiza Kuzhiyil, Rolling Ridge Elementary / Harbor Creek SD, Erie, Pennsylvania Gabby Ebuh, Tanglewood Academy / Houston, Texas Giselle Ebuh, Tanglewood Academy / Houston, Texas Haaniya Mehran, Sugar Mill Elementary / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas Hailee Galeana, Benito Juarez Elementary / San Diego USD, San Diego, California Hannah Manley, Homeschool / Schulenburg, Texas Harrison Kummer, AGLA (Aveson Global Leadership Academy) / Altadena, CA Izecke Noble, Hodges Bend Middle School / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas Jack Green, Covenant Academy / Houston, Texas Jaclyn Fleming, CyFalls High School / Cypress Fairbanks ISD, Houston, Texas Jade Lawson-Ho, Bunker Hill Elementary/ Spring Branch ISD, Houston, Texas Jaelynn Bocala, Benito Juarez Elementary / San Diego USD, San Diego, California Katherine Bacani, Sugar Land Middle School/ Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas Keller Rivers, Sugar Mill Elementary / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas Kurt Kauffman, Sugar Land Middle School / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas Laetitia Gue’rin, Awty International School / Houston, Texas Laury Anne Pluviose, Wilson West Middle School / Wilson SD, West Lawn, Pennsylvania Lindsey Kinane, Pearland High School / Pearland ISD, Pearland, Texas Marin Werner, Wilson West Middle School / Wilson SD, West Lawn, Pennsylvania Mary Evyn Cutshall, Sugar Mill Elementary / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas Maya Geiss, Manlius Pebble Hill School / DeWitt, New York Megan Taylor, CyRanch High School / Cypress Fairbanks ISD, Houston, Texas Michael (M.P.) Geiss, Manlius Pebble Hill School / DeWitt, New York Micah Clayton, Burnett Junior High / Wylie ISD, Wylie, Texas Morgan Kaufmann, Wilson West Middle School / Wilson SD, West Lawn, Pennsylvania Morgan Reppert, Wilson West Middle School / Wilson SD, West Lawn,Pennsylvania Mykaela Lawson-Ho, The Tenney School / Houston, Texas Nathaniel Houck, Wilson West Middle School / Wilson SD, West Lawn, Pennsylvania Nia Gallagher, Wilson West Middle School / Wilson SD, West Lawn, Pennsylvania Richard Wu, Clear Lake High School / Clear Creek ISD, Houston, Texas Samantha Bacani, Sugar Mill Elementary / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas Shelley Buckley, Shoals Christian / Florence, Alabama Sarah Hall, Cypress Christian School / Houston, Texas Sarah Young, CyFalls High School / Cypress Fairbanks ISD, Houston, Texas Shana Hunter, Wilson West Middle School / Wilson SD, West Lawn, Pennsylvania Shannon Kummer, Sunland Christian School / Sylmar, CA Simon Petty, The Tenney School / Houston, Texas Sofia Bajwa, The Kinkaid School / Houston, Texas Valeria Keuser, Awty International School / Houston, Texas Yarely Perez, Benito Juarez Elementary / San Diego USD, San Diego, California Yasmeen Feghali, Sugar Mill Elementary / Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, Texas Back Cover Artists Eric Dargan II, Arnold Middle School / Cypress Fairbanks ISD, Houston, Texas Jillian Barry, The Emery/Weiner School / Houston, Texas Julia Fishkind, The Emery/Weiner School / Houston, Texas Madison Stein, The Emery/Weiner School / Houston, Texas Cover Artist Elise Willsey, Harwood Junior High / Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, Bedford, Texas To learn more about READ3Zero please visit https://read3zero.org. For more information about Melissa Williams please visit https://www.melissamwilliamsauthor.com. To schedule an interview with Melissa Williams please contact Cynthia Murga at 713-935-5766 or at cynthia@medley-inc.com.