| Academy Award-Winning Screenwriter Honored at Benefit |
|
Geoffrey S. Fletcher, Academy Award-winning screenwriter, News for Immediate Release New York (PRWEB) April 23, 2010 - - Academy Award-Winning Screenwriter Geoffrey S. Fletcher accepted the Harlem Academy Award for Excellence at the school’s seventh annual benefit last night. He was selected for his screenplay Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire and its illustration of the power of education to positively transform a life.
The event took place at the Jumeirah Essex House on Central Park South in New York City. After a brief performance by the Harlem Academy chorus, Mr. Fletcher was presented with the award by Harlem Academy parent Petal Hwang and Head of School Vincent Dotoli. In his acceptance remarks Mr. Fletcher spoke of the importance of developing and listening to one’s inner voice and the critical role education plays in that development. Upon receiving the award Mr. Fletcher said, “My father used to send money to his siblings for their educations when he was in the military, and my mother she was an educator her whole career … So when I say that education is important to me, I really mean it, and to receive this award from a place that I know will generate heroes for others is a profound honor.” Mr. Fletcher plans to return to Harlem Academy to share a film he shot when he was a burgeoning filmmaker and screenwriter, inspiration for Harlem Academy’s grade five and six students who are engaging in a filmmaking project to culminate their year-long study of heroism in English class. After the award presentation, Hugh Hildesley of Sotheby’s took to the stage auctioning off jewelry, trips to other continents, and secured a winning bid of $4,000 for three goats belonging to actor James Earl Jones. More than 300 guests were in attendance helping to raise more than $200,000 for the school’s scholarship funds. Read a transcript of Geoffrey Fletcher’s remarks. For additional information, contact Britta Blodgett or visit www.harlemacademy.org.
|
