SACRAMENTO – On May 28, 2005, Adnan Touma, a volunteer from El Cerrito, was presented with the California Lottery's “Heroes in Education” award on “The Big Spin®” show.
For 21 years, Touma has been helping at-risk students through poetry. He is the director of a weekly non-profit cable television literacy program called Wee Poets. During the program, local students, who write and submit their own poems, are selected to appear on the show and recite their work. This gives these students a chance to improve their reading, writing and public speaking skills.
Touma also provides free internships to students who are interested in learning about television. He teaches them how to produce, direct, operate technical equipment, and fully edit a show. Best of all, Touma lets these students learn by actually doing, as each and every episode of Wee Poets is produced by the students. With his help, these young learners receive high school credit and job training, and many of these students go on to college to major in broadcasting.
On hand to honor Adnan Touma was Emmy nominated actor and Broadway star Jaime Farr who played Corporal Klinger on the most watched television show of all time M*A*S*H*!
The California Lottery’s “Heroes in Education” award has been presented monthly on “The Big Spin®” show, since 1999. The Lottery partners with celebrities to present these awards which recognize special individuals who volunteer time and resources to their schools and communities.