Stephen King to be Featured Speaker for Library Foundation Fundraiser

MANATEE COUNTY – The famous Stephen King was announced this week as the speaker for the Manatee Library Foundation’s most ambitious fundraiser ever.

Manatee Library Foundation will host “An Evening with Stephen King” in January to benefit Manatee County Public Library System. Community leaders joined the library groups to announce the internationally acclaimed author during a press conference at Central Library Tuesday.  

“An Evening with Stephen King” will be held at the Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 3rd Ave W, in Bradenton, on Jan. 29. As part of the fundraiser, the Foundation hopes to raise $100,000 to help overhaul the Library System’s online operating system. Northern Trust bank was also announced as the event’s presenting sponsor.

“We are ever grateful to Mr. King,” said Foundation president Jane Plitt. “Now as  caring community citizens, we need to step up and help partner with the County.  Become a sponsor and help us help our award-winning Library., Libraries transform our lives as children, adults and seniors. This year our Library won the State award for “changing people’s lives. Imagine what we can do with a new operating system!”

State Rep. Jim Boyd, the event’s honorary chair, said the event will be “second to none.”

Sponsorship packages from $10,000 (Presenting Sponsor) to $200 (Advocate) are available online or by calling (941) 748-5555, ext. 6306. To guarantee tickets, sponsorship commitments must be received by Oct. 15.

Jane Plitt, President, Manatee Library Foundation. Photo: Undine Shorey

The Foundation will also give away a ticket to the King event to the winner of a Page Turner contest. The contest challenges amateur writers to submit the first paragraph – no more than 250 words – of an unpublished mystery.One winner will be announced in January. (If a minor wins the contest, he or she will be awarded two tickets for guardian accompaniment.)

King’s books have sold more than 350 million copies worldwide. His most popular titles include Carrie, The Shining, The Stand, Misery, It and The Dark Tower. His He has received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement, the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America along with numerous writing awards in the fields of fantasy, fiction, horror and mystery writing.

Manatee County Library Services Manager Ava Ehde explained that proceeds from the fundraiser will go to modernize the way local patrons use library resources. The Library’s outdated online operating system controls the behind-the-scenes staff functions and affects what library patrons can see and do when they use the catalog.

Honorary Chair, State Rep. Jim Boyd. Photo by Undine Shorey

For more information on the event, to learn about sponsorships visit www.manateelibraryfoundation.org  Later this year you’ll also be able to purchase tickets on that site.