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Sandburg Awards Dinner Honors Great Writers  CSLA13_November_eNews Sandburg Awards Dinner draws "Chicago's smartest" crowd to pay tribute to the power of the written word. With more than 750 guests in attendance, including 74 notable authors with ties to Chicago, the 2013 Carl Sandburg Literary Awards on October 23rd, honoring Isabel Allende, Michael Lewis and Christine Sneed, was a roaring success. Co-chaired by Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts and Library Foundation board member, Marcy Carlin, the event raised more than $1.5 million for the Chicago Public Library Foundation. Director and author Steve James, author Alex Kotlowitz, graphic novelist Chris Ware, novelist Eula Biss, Pulitzer Prize-winner Jack Fuller, fashion critic Tavi Gevinson, and master chef Art Smith were some of the many in attendance, all signing their books in between dinner courses. David Casper, executive vice president of BMO Harris Bank, the Presenting Sponsor of the night, praised the Library by saying it is, "one of the real treasures of Chicago," and its literary community, "Your literary genius is the social fiber of our whole city," Casper said. "And One Book, One Chicago, also co-sponsored by BMO Harris Bank, is one of the greatest reading programs in the world." Commissioner Brian Bannon shared the achievements of the Library over the last year and announced that, with generous funding from the Library Foundation, the Library will launch a re-designed website in the next few weeks. Mayor Rahm Emanuel told the crowd about his challenge to kids to read all summer, promising to "jump in the lake" if they met his challenge. Over 71,000 children read and reported on over 2.1 million books, which will send the Mayor, Commissioner Bannon and Library Board Member and former Chicago Bear, Israel Idonije, into Lake Michigan for the Polar Plunge this Winter! Chicago Public Library Board President Linda Johnson Rice presented the 21st Century Award to author Christine Sneed. "Libraries allow us to sneak books above our grade level... and allow us to cultivate our best character traits: curiosity, tolerance, and empathy," Sneed said. Tom Ricketts and Marcy Carlin introduced the Carl Sandburg Literary Award winners, author Isabel Allende, who was honored with the Sandburg Award for fiction, and Michael Lewis, who received the award for nonfiction. NPR's Weekend Edition host, and native Chicagoan, Scott Simon led an entertaining conversation between Allende and Lewis. Simon asked if Lewis thought the Cubs would win a World Series in the near future. Lewis said that there seems to be no incentive for the Chicago Cubs to win since fans support and attend games regardless. Allende, who said she "knew nothing about baseball", interjected that she could lend some "practical magic" to the situation. Simon asked both how they wanted their work to be remembered. Allende, with great humor and timing replied, "Only men are occupied with posterity." She continued by adding that she hoped her readers picked up a sense of kindness from her books. Lewis responded that he likes, "the idea that my books would give someone pleasure. It is an understated quality." It was a night to revel in the success of the Chicago Public Library and Library Foundation while paying tribute to the power of the written word. |
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