Pulitzer Prize-winning Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Connie Schultz will share her experiences as an acclaimed journalist, mother and senator’s wife this spring at the Women’s Endowment Fund’s “For Women, Forever” celebration. The annual dinner event, which draws more than 300 people, takes place March 23 at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn.
As a nationally syndicated columnist for the Plain Dealer, Schultz has written her way into households across the country. Her pitch-perfect commentary highlights issues ranging from coat-check gratuities to women’s reproductive health. In 2005, Schultz won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary, with judges calling her “a voice for the underdog and underprivileged.”
This same voice led Schultz to receive the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Social Justice Reporting for her series “The Burden of Innocence,” which chronicled Michael Green’s fight for justice. Green served 13 years in prison for a rape he did not commit; after Schultz’s series was published, the real rapist turned himself in.
Schultz is the author of two books, both written in her candid, down-to-earth style. Her first book, “Life Happens: And Other Unavoidable Truths,” is a critically acclaimed collection of commentary on single parenthood, career, middle-age romance and other everyday circumstances. In her most recent book, “ … and His Lovely Wife: A Memoir from the Woman Beside the Man,” Schultz describes her life on the campaign trail as the wife of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), who successfully became the first Democratic senator from Ohio in 14 years.
Schultz is a Kent State University alumna and a former Huffington Post contributor. She has spoken to groups from coast to coast, infusing each of her talks with humor, passion and realism.
“We are thrilled to have Connie Schultz as our keynote speaker this year,” said event co-chair Dianne Newman. “Connie has been an advocate for women’s issues throughout her career, from keeping her own name to bringing light to unethical restaurant gratuity practices. Our dinner guests will be inspired by her passion.”
“For Women, Forever” is the annual celebration of the Women’s Endowment Fund, its members and contributors, and the organizations supported by its grants. This year’s event will feature a reception at 6 p.m., with dinner and a program at 6:45.
Tickets for the annual dinner start at $60 per person. For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, visit www.akroncommunityfdn.org/wef or call (330) 376-8522.
The Women’s Endowment Fund is also seeking sponsors for the event. To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Newman at (330) 283-8591 or .
