CORVALLIS, Ore.: Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times will be the keynote speaker at an event on Friday, Oct. 31, celebrating the success of Oregon State University's billion-dollar campaign.
The public is invited to this free celebration, which will be held at the LaSells Stewart Center on the OSU campus beginning at 4 p.m.
A seasoned journalist and native of Yamhill, Oregon, Kristof has traveled the major roads and minor byways of China, India, South Asia and Africa, offering a compassionate glimpse into global health, poverty and gender in the developing world.
He and his wife Sheryl Wudunn co-authored the best-selling "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide," which inspired a four-hour PBS series of the same name. In their new book, "A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity," they look around the world at people who are working to make it a better place, and show readers the numerous ways this work can be supported.
Kristof's remarks will conclude an hour-long multimedia showcase of the impact of The Campaign for OSU on students, Oregon and the world. Publicly launched in October 2007, the campaign has raised more than $1.096 billion to support university priorities. To date, more than 105,000 donors to the campaign have:
"In his world travels, Nicholas Kristof has seen incredible examples of people who are transforming lives and creating opportunity," said OSU President Edward J. Ray. "Though on a different level, that's what's happening at Oregon State University, with the help of our growing philanthropic community. We couldn't be more pleased to welcome one of Oregon's native sons to our campus to celebrate our progress over the last decade and look together to the future.
"The contribution this university makes to our state and to our world is extraordinary and this campaign has expanded future opportunities tremendously."
Several additional activities are planned on campus for Oct. 31, which is part of Homecoming week. The grand opening celebration for Austin Hall, the new home of the College of Business, will take place at 1:30 p.m. A full schedule of Homecoming events, including lectures, open houses and a Thursday evening Lights Parade and Block Party, is available at osualum.com/homecoming.
Molly Brown, 541-737-3602, [email protected]
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