Fall Author Event

Our main fundraising event of the year, the Fall Author Event has grown into one of the most highly attended events in our community with over 1,000 supporters at a public gala featuring a presentation by a renowned author. This fundraiser not only provides an opportunity for our community to come together in support of education, but also provides our students the chance to interact with, learn from, and meet world-class authors. The Fall Author Event includes a student writing contest based on our visiting author's books as well as a school assembly with the author for students across the district.

To see all of the amazing authors we've hosted at our Fall Author Event, click here.

2025 Fall Author Event: Sy Montgomery

Date: Thursday, October 2, 2025

Time: 5:30 pm social hour | 6:30 pm dinner

Place: Ogden Eccles Conference Center | 2415 Washington Blvd.

To research her articles, films, and 38 books for adults and children, nationally bestselling author Sy Montgomery has been chased by an angry silverback gorilla in Rwanda, hunted by a tiger in India, and swum with piranhas, electric eels, and pink dolphins in the Amazon. She has searched the Altai Mountains of Mongolia's Gobi for snow leopards, hiked into the trackless cloud forest of Papua New Guinea to radiocollar tree kangaroos, and learned to SCUBA dive in order to commune with octopuses. Described by the Boston Globe as "Part Indiana Jones and part Emily Dickinson," Sy's award-winning books include The Good Good Pig, Spell of the Tiger, What the Chicken Knows, and How to Be a Good Creature. Several of her works have been adapted into National Geographic documentaries. Her book The Soul of the Octopus, a 2015 National Book Award Finalist, inspired the streaming series Secrets of the Octopus, now available on Hulu and Disney+. You can view the series trailer here.

Committed to reaching a broad audience, Sy writes for both print and broadcast media in the U.S. and abroad. She sees her work as essential at this pivotal moment in history. "We are on the cusp of either destroying this sweet, green Earth--or revolutionizing the way we understand the rest of animate creation," she says. "It's an important time to be writing about the connections we share with our fellow creatures. It's a great time to be alive."

Purchase sponsorships and tickets in the form below.

 

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Sponsorship Levels and Ticketing

Pulitzer Level Sponsor - $10,000 and up

Pulitzer Level sponsors will have their name/logo appear on the projection screen throughout the evening event and will be recognized in our electronic newsletter (over 6,000 distribution) and on the foundation website and social media. They will also receive a premier table with tier one seating for ten at the dinner and presentation on October 2, be invited to an exclusive meet-and-greet reception with the author prior to the dinner, and receive a hardbound book to be personally signed by the author. 

Carnegie Level Sponsor - $5,000-$9,999

Carnegie Level sponsors will have their name/logo appear on the projection screen throughout the evening event and will be recognized in our electronic newsletter (over 6,000 distribution) and on the foundation website and social media. They will also receive tier one seating for ten at the dinner and presentation on October 2, be invited to an exclusive meet-and-greet reception with the author prior to the dinner, and receive a hardbound book to be personally signed by the author.

Newbery Level Sponsor - $2,500-$4,999

Newbery Level sponsors will receive tier two seating for ten at the dinner and presentation on October 2. They will also be recognized on the foundation website and social media.

Best-Seller Level Sponsor - $1,500-$2,499

Best-Seller Level sponsors will receive tier three seating for ten at the dinner and presentation on October 2. They will also be recognized on the foundation website and social media.

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