(NEW YORK)— PEN America will celebrate two literary champions at its annual gala on Thursday, May 15— iconic actor, producer and independent publisher Sarah Jessica Parker, who will receive the PEN/Audible Literary Service Award, and Jon Yaged, chief executive officer of Macmillan Publishers, who will be honored with this year’s Business Visionary award. Authors Jodi Picoult and Dinaw Mengestu, both PEN America trustees, will serve as literary co-chairs of the event.
As diversity comes under unprecedented attack and book bans run rampant through American public schools, with LGBTQ+ authors and writers of color most targeted, Sarah Jessica Parker will be honored for her outspoken defense of the freedom to read as captured in the documentary film The Librarians, which she executive produced and which premiered at Sundance in January. She will also be celebrated for uplifting underrepresented voices through her own imprint, SJP Lit. Jon Yaged, chief executive officer of Macmillan Publishers and for many years head of its children’s publishing division, will receive the Business Visionary award, reflecting his decades-long commitment to publishing diverse authors, combating book bans, and igniting a lifelong love of reading in young people.
PEN America co-CEO Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf said: “We are now at a crisis point with books by underrepresented writers being pulled from school libraries and classrooms. Sarah Jessica Parker is pushing back against these bans as an indispensable defender of the freedom to read and by shining a light on exceptional new voices of American contemporary literature through her publishing imprint SJP Lit. For these reasons, we are delighted to honor this multi-talented artist and cultural icon with one of our most prestigious awards.”
Co-CEO Summer Lopez said: “Jon Yaged has spoken with eloquence and force against the limiting and chilling effects of book bans that have skyrocketed in public schools and libraries. For decades, Jon has been a stalwart defender of the right to read and a champion of ensuring publishing represents diverse voices and perspectives, understanding the fundamental role of these values in a democratic society. We are honored to give him the spotlight as a ‘visionary’ for his big-hearted, expansive, and principled approach to literary publishing.”
For the 16th year, the writers’ organization will hold the Literary Gala under the 94-foot blue whale at Manhattan’s American Museum of Natural History. The evening shines a light on an internationally jailed writer of conscience, while bringing together writers, journalists, publishers, editors, humanitarians, and cultural influencers to support PEN America’s global literary programming and advocacy for the freedoms to speak, read and write.
The festive, high-profile evening honors extraordinary contributors in literature, the arts, journalism, publishing, and film, alongside courageous individuals who have stood up for free expression against oppressive regimes..
Last year, PEN America honored Paul Simon who received the PEN/Literary Service Award in celebration of his indelible lyrics and elevation of essential cultures. The Georgia mother and daughter election workers, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea’ “Shaye” Moss received the PEN/Benenson Courage Award for standing up to false claims against them in 2020 by election deniers. In 2023, PEN America honored author Salman Rushdie, its former president, with the PEN Centenary Courage Award, following the knife attack that left him severely wounded. Also honored that year with the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award was imprisoned Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi who later that year received the Nobel Peace Prize.
Past literary honorees include an illustrious group: President Barack Obama and Ava DuVernay and PEN/Barbey Literary Service Award recipients Margaret Atwood, Bob Woodward, Stephen King, Patti Smith, the late Toni Morrison,Stephen Sondheim, Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Zadie Smith and Saturday Night Live (SNL) creator, writer and executive producer Lorne Michaels.
The celebration draws 700 + supporters with many dozens of acclaimed writers seated at each table as literary hosts. Past writer-hosts include Rushdie, Ayad Akhtar, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Robert Caro, Ron Chernow, Jhumpa Lahiri, Min Jin Lee, Jay McInerney, Lynn Nottage, Jodi Picoult, Gary Shteyngart, Gay Talese, and many more.
In the months ahead, PEN America will announce the gala host as well as other honorees and presenters, including the recipients of the PEN/Benenson Freedom of Expression Courage Award, devoted to exceptional acts of courage in the exercise of free expression, and the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award, given to an internationally jailed writer of conscience.
Previous hosts have included Seth Meyers, Colin Jost, John Oliver, Awkwafina and Faith Salie. Special guests last year included author Malcolm Gladwell, journalist Andrea Mitchell, and filmmaker Tyler Perry; in prior years, guests included actors Lupita N’yongo, Michael Douglas, Ruth Negga, Morgan Freeman, Meryl Streep and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
The gala will begin at 6 pm with a cocktail reception, and dinner and awards at 7:30 pm. The after party and dessert will follow at 9:30 pm.
For sponsorship information, please call 646-880-6116 or email: PENgala@pen.org. Individual tickets will be available in April. For more information about the gala, visit: www.pen.org/gala
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, STrimel@PEN.org, 201-247-5057