Tuesday, April 18, 2000

WILMINGTON, NC -- Wally Amos, inventor of "Famous Amos" cookies and a spokesperson for literacy programs nationwide, will promote reading during events Monday, April 24, and Tuesday, April 25, at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and Barnes and Noble Booksellers.

Amos is the national spokesperson for Literacy Volunteers of America and is a board member of the National Center for Family Literacy and Communities in Schools. His appearance in Wilmington is sponsored by the Watson School of Education at UNCW.

"Amos is a national leader who is actively involved in the literacy movement," said Dr. Andrew Hayes, interim dean of the Watson School of Education. "Wally's visit will support our curriculum, in which we teach about literacy and the importance of reading to children. A component of our Educational Lab involves education students working as reading tutors to area youth. Reading is fundamental to the learning process, and unfortunately low levels of literacy among children and adults continue to be a concern in North Carolina and the United States."

Hayes has written extensively on the subject of literacy and in 1996 served as director of research for the National Center for Family Literacy in Louisville, Ky., where he worked closely with Amos.

During his UNCW visit, Amos will discuss and demonstrate the importance of reading with Ed Lab tutors, children, parents and faculty. He will make a public presentation in which he will talk about the importance of adults modeling reading and reading to children at 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 25, at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 322 South College Road.

Prior to founding the Famous Amos Cookie Company in 1975, Amos was the first African-American agent for the William Morris Talent Agency, where he represented The Supremes and Marvin Gaye. He is credited with signing the then-unknown duo Simon and Garfunkel.

For more information, contact Dr. Hayes at 910/962-3354.

Note to the media: Members of the media are invited to cover Amos' UNCW visit which is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., Monday, April 24, in the University Union Living Room, and the Barnes and Noble session Tuesday morning.