Baldacci gives $50,000 to Literacy & Learning Center
Author David Baldacci touched on a range of topics – some serious, some humorous – during his talk the afternoon of Sept. 30 as part of the Literacy and Learning Center’s “Celebration of Education” fundraiser.
The annual event featured Baldacci’s presentation at 2 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center and later that evening patrons enjoyed a dinner with him at Old Edwards Club.
During the hour-long presentation, Baldacci – “the Italian” not be confused with John Grisham – talked about the inspiration for his some of his books, adventurous boat rides, standing up for democracy and the importance of literacy.
Baldacci gave $50,000 to the Literacy and Learning Center of Highlands.
“We had guests of the event become so inspired by his offer that they have also pledged $50,000 as a matching grant,” said Anna Norton, the center’s marketing manager. “Our hope is that others will take the challenge giving us a total of $150,000. We expect additional donations to come in over the coming weeks.”
Baldacci recalled as a child going to the library and checking out as many books as he could. He found it was a way to learn more about people and the world, saying he read about people who didn’t look like him or dress like him, didn’t think like him. He noted that throughout history when people take over other countries or governments, one of the first things they do is shutter the libraries.
“You’ll meet far more people through the pages of books than you will in your entire life,” he said, adding that literacy is the key to getting rid of ignorance.
Baldacci and his wife cofounded the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy programs nationwide.
During his talk he encouraged people to develop empathy. “If you have empathy, it’s going to lead to a lot of good decisions in your life.”
Baldacci said as a child he loved to talk. One day his mother gave him a journal and told him to start writing down his stories. He took to the task enthusiastically thinking he could write stories like the ones he enjoyed reading. “It changed my life,” he said. In later years when he thanked his mother for the gift that set him on his path, he said she replied, “I just wanted to shut you up. You had got on my last nerve.”
Following the talk, Baldacci took time to sign copies of his newest novel “Strangers in Time” set in London in 1944. It is a story of a bereaved bookshop owner and two teenagers scarred by World War II, and the healing and hope they fine in one another.
“We are losing our stories of what World War II represented,” Baldacci said. “World War II was a great example of working together for greater than an individual.”
He said the lessons learned through the war and difficult times are important to remember. “It’s much better to go through tough times with people who care about you rather than go through them alone.”
The best-selling author went on to tell some humorous stories such as a trip when he and his family were invited to join the George H.W. Bush family at their home in Kennebunkport, Maine and went out on a boat with the elder Bush at the helm. After being levitated from his seat several times and wobbling back to shore Baldacci vowed he would never get on a boat with Bush driving again. He did feel somewhat better after watching, on the same trip, as Bush catapulted two well-groomed ESPN commentators from a float being pulled behind the boat – dunking them into the chilly Atlantic Ocean.
His ego took a hit once when an enthusiastic fan began gushing over him in a restaurant - thinking he was John Grisham. Baldacci said he and Grisham have been friends for 25 years, but he wasn’t really feeling the love for his buddy at that moment. When he told the fan she had guessed the right genre, but that he wasn’t Grisham, she was embarrassed but then realized her dining companion had correctly guessed his identity – he was “the Italian” – Baldacci.
Baldacci has sold over two million copies of his books worldwide with some of his works adapted for film and television. He said he once signed 6,000 books in four hours, breaking a previous record held by former President Jimmy Carter.
He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia School of Law.
The Literacy and Learning Center seeks to enrich lives and expand the knowledge of children, adults and families through educational programs that advance literacy and promote lifelong learning, which results in an informed and empowered community. For information, visit theliteracyandlearningcenter.org.
- Mia Overton
editor@thefranklinpress.com