Anna Quindlen in Philly Tomorrow

from the inbox:

On Wednesday, April 25^th, 2012, Anna Quindlen, celebrated novelist, social critic, and staunch supporter of reproductive rights, will provide the keynote address at Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania’s 16^th Annual Spring Gathering in Center City, Philadelphia. [blogger's note:  Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.]

Anna Quindlen is a former Newsweek and New York Times columnist who has provided audiences with her perspective on events of the day for more than 30 years, delicately balancing the political with the personal.  A Pulitzer Prize willing journalist and bestselling author, she began her career at age 18 as a “copy girl” for The New York Post, joining The New York Times a few years later.  She eventually became the third woman in the paper’s history to write for its influential Op-Ed page when she began her award-winning column, “Public and Private.”  Ms. Quindlen’s bestseller, One True Thing, was made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Renee Zellweger, and her bestsellers Blessings and Black and Blue were both made into TV movies.  And her new novel, Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake, is being released on April 24, 2012.  A staunch supporter of women’s reproductive rights, Ms. Quindlen speaks passionately about gender equality, women’s leadership and the driving force of women in our society. She's on the board of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and was Chair of the Board of Trustees at Barnard College for eight years. She holds honorary degrees from more than a dozen American universities.

In addition, Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania will present this year’s Freedom Keeper Award to the Pennsylvania senators and representatives who worked to defeat legislation intended to impede access to a full range of reproductive health care – including affordable, safe abortion services. 

Individual tickets are $85 each.  Sponsorships begin at $300 for two guests.  $1,000 and up sponsors are invited to a small, private reception with Ms. Quindlen.