91´«Ã½

CHICAGO — Miriam Tuliao has announced that she will swim , a one mile open water event in New York City, on July 31 to raise funds for the . This is Tuliao's 14th consecutive year organizing an annual fundraiser for Spectrum. Her swim will be in honor of Shauntee Burns-Simpson, president of the and associate director of school outreach for The New York Public Library.

"Shauntee is an extraordinarily innovative and inspiring librarian who has supported millions of young people, families, educators, and library staff in New York City and across the country in her daily work,” Tuliao said.

“The Spectrum Scholarship program is an important step to helping diversify the library profession. We know representation matters in our books and in our libraries. The more opportunities we can bring to recruiting, hiring, promoting, and retaining the many races and ethnicities of the world, the better,” urged Burns-Simpson.

To support Tuliao’s fundraising efforts, please visit to make your gift and select the Spectrum Scholarship Program as the fund you wish to support. Upon checkout please select the “Add a tribute or memorial to my donation” option on the top and include the Tuliao Fundraiser in honor of Shauntee Burns-Simpson and indicate acknowledgement going to Miriam Tuliao in the fields provided.

Last year, Tuliao raised over $6,500 for Spectrum through her 125 mile run, which will honor 125 current and former NYPLers who have dedicated their lives in service to New York City and communities all across North America.

Tuliao is a United States masters swimmer who has participated in several long-distance open water events, including the Big Shoulders 5K Swim in Chicago in September 2007.

Tuliao completed the New Jersey State Triathlon in 2008 and the 5.85-mile Little Red Lighthouse swim in 2009, both times raising funds for the 91´«Ã½ Spectrum Scholarship Program and has also participated in two United States Masters Swimming two-mile Cable Open Water National Championships in support of the Spectrum Presidential Initiative.

She raised funds for Spectrum through swimming a 1.2-K race around the Statue of Liberty in memory of Mrs. Ann Bianchini in 2012 and swam the 2013 IGLA Championship Open Water Swim in memory of Elizabeth A. Blatz and Carol Small.

In 2014, she swam in the Annual Lake Erie Open Water Classic in honor of George and Deborah Trepp.

She also raised more than $1,500 each year through the 2016 Grimaldo's Mile Swim in memory of Lynn Taylor, the 2017 Steve Belson Memorial Ocean Mile Swim in honor of Cynthia Clark, and the 2018 Foster Lake Cable Swim in memory of John Whitt and Lucidia Gratacos Arus.

In addition, Tuliao raised over $4,000 for Spectrum through her participation in the 2019 Washington DC Sharkfest Swim and in memory of mentors and NYPL librarians Leslie Fass Ederer and Chad Quartuccio.

Tuliao is a library marketing manager at Penguin Random House and member of AP91´«Ã½ and RUSA. She was formerly the assistant director of selection at BookOps, the shared technical services organization of New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library.

To learn more about the Spectrum Scholarship Program, please contact the Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services at spectrum@ala.org or visit .

Support Tuliao's efforts by contributing to 91´«Ã½ at , selecting Spectrum, and making your gift in tribute to Miriam Tuliao. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.