The Literacy Network will host a fundraiser to celebrate a record number of students and their accomplishments.
“Reading Between the Wines” invites the community to the Literacy Network to celebrate its students. The fundraiser aims to support its free classes and tutoring programs, which help many immigrant and U.S.-born adults in Dane County advance their careers, earn high school diplomas, support their children academically, become U.S. citizens, and more. The event features food from student-owned restaurants, live music, wine tasting and readings from “Dreams in Progress” — this year’s book of student writing.
Funding cuts have been a continued concern for the Literacy Network. The previous year, a federal contract was canceled from Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services to lawful permanent residents that prepared students for the U.S. naturalization interviews. The sudden cut caused a $74,000 shortfall in funding for Literacy Network’s English for Citizenship Program.
This past February, funding was restored, but with the help of the Madison Community Foundation via its Community Impact Grant.
Literacy Network is still facing additional funding cuts, now for its refugee programs.
“Literacy Network served a record number of students — more than 1,700 — for the third consecutive year in 2025,” said Robin Ryan, executive director of Literacy Network. “We aim to provide stability for our immigrant and U.S.-born students in the face of national turbulence surrounding immigration and a nearly $300,000 reduction in federal support for our refugee and citizenship programs. We invite community members to attend the event to hear directly from students, be inspired by their stories, and share in celebrating their achievements.”
The fundraiser hopes to fill in that new gap in funding. The evening will begin with a social hour of wine tasting, live mariachi and food from student-owned restaurants. A panel discussion will follow, featuring students’ reflections on their journeys and dreams.
The panel will be moderated by Jackie Judd, a former nationally renowned journalist with ABC News, NPR and PBS NewsHour who has covered stories on Tiananmen Square, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the AIDS epidemic.
An online auction will also be held from April 14-28, featuring tickets for family outings, gift cards to local stores, art and more.
Tickets are currently on sale for Reading Between the Wines for $65. Tickets include food, wine tasting and a book of student stories. Registration is open until April 24.
Reading Between the Wines will be held Tuesday, April 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Barnwood Events, 3230 Larsen Rd.
