Renowned author and Palm Beach resident James Patterson will be the keynote speaker for Palm Beach State College’s 2019 STEAM Luncheon presented by Bank of America.
The annual event, themed “A Conversation with James Patterson: Transforming Lives through Literacy” and chaired by South Florida businesswoman and philanthropist Yvonne Boice, will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 20 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts’ Cohen Pavilion. Tickets are $150.
During the event, Patterson will discuss more about why reading is vital, as well as his belief that there is no such thing as a person who doesn’t like to read, only people who haven’t found the right book. He’ll also talk about his books, such as the Max Einstein series, that are helping teach children about math and science and career opportunities in the fields.
Patterson is a bestselling author, who is also known for his philanthropic efforts to promote literacy and education. He’s given over a million books to schoolkids and more than $40 million to support education and endowed more than 5,000 college scholarships for teachers. Locally, he has established after-school reading programs at four Palm Beach County middle schools where as many as 1,000 books have been donated.
“We are fortunate to collaborate with Mr. Patterson, an esteemed member of the community, who has distinguished himself through his craft and compassion. His support of some of the country’s most under-resourced schools and youth programs has not only inspired others but also provides opportunities to enhance STEAM learning and initiatives,” PBSC President Ava L. Parker said.
The luncheon is part of Palm Beach State College’s STEAM initiative, which aims to impact the projected shortage of local, skilled professionals in STEAM fields (science, technology, engineering, arts and math). Goals for the initiative include increasing student scholarships, business partnerships, internships and other academic program enhancements to prepare more graduates for these high-wage, high demand positions. To learn more, visit www.palmbeachstate.edu/foundation/steam or call (561) 868-3450.
