|
Dear Friend,
Some two decades ago, when I served as PEN America’s president, we conceived the PEN World Voices Festival. It quickly became the premier international literary festival in the country.
This year, a pandemic put that tradition in jeopardy.
As authors were forced to cancel book tours, we took the step of canceling our festival and the readings and events and celebrations that often shape the contours of a year at PEN America.
But with your support, we moved our operations online. Our hallmark PEN Out Loud series brought in the highest number of attendees ever with a virtual audience around the globe. Our What To Expect When You're Electing initiative reached millions. Our Writers Emergency Fund gave small grants to working writers struggling to make ends meet amid the crisis.
Never before have we extended the magic and possibilities of PEN America to more people in more places across more states and cities and countries. And your help made it possible.
We don’t know what will happen next year. But we do know that your support has helped us grow. Has helped us thrive. Has helped us move ever-closer to our goal of being a truly national organization of Members and friends.
So as we close out 2020 and look forward to a brighter future ahead, please give to PEN America. If you can, give generously.
Regards,
Salman Rushdie
PEN America President Emeritus
|
