The Daily from Ball State Unified Media
CAMPUS

Adam Braun, New York Times best-selling author to speak at Pruis Hall

<p>Adam Braun, a New York Times Best Seller for his book "The Promise of a Pencil" and founder of&nbsp;Pencils of Promise, spoke at Pruis Hall on Oct. 17.&nbsp;Pencils of Promise is&nbsp;a non-profit organization that builds schools and helps increases access to education for children in developing countries,&nbsp;<em>Wikimedia Commons // Photo Courtesy</em></p>

Adam Braun, a New York Times Best Seller for his book "The Promise of a Pencil" and founder of Pencils of Promise, spoke at Pruis Hall on Oct. 17. Pencils of Promise is a non-profit organization that builds schools and helps increases access to education for children in developing countries, Wikimedia Commons // Photo Courtesy

What: Adam Braun: "The Importance of Being a Global Citizen"

When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17

Where: Pruis Hall

When Adam Braun left Wall Street to start his organization "Pencils of Promise," people thought he was crazy. Seven years and 360 schools later has shown the move to be a good one.

Now a New York Times best-seller, Braun will be speaking to students at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 in Prius Hall about his Pencils of Promise and "The Importance of Being a Global Citizen." 

Braun will be speaking about how anyone can get involved and make a difference in the world. 

“The goal is really to show an example to students that you can use your life as an instrument of service to others and to make a positive difference in the world,” Braun said.

Raegan Allen, a freshman actuarial science major, is planning to attend the talk because of her interest in Pencils of Promise.

“I am really excited to hear Adam’s message about helping others and his story," Allen said. "I think that the goal of his organization is very important and one we should all help support.”

The support of young people has been what has made Pencils of Promise so successful.

“The organization, from its earliest of days, has grown off of a base of young supporters who believe that age, status or location had the resounding capacity to make a difference in the world,” Braun said.

Pencils of Promise has opened over 360 schools around the world since Braun founded the organization in 2009. The schools currently serve more than 33,000 students.

“Our goal as an organization is to help build a world in which every child has access to quality education and so our work is going to continue until we reach that end,” he said.

Braun left his job on Wall Street to start Pencils of Promise after meeting a young boy in India. 

“He was a nine-year-old street beggar I met on the street,” Braun said. “Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to really reconnect with him but he did have a really profound impact on me and certainly was the inspiration for Pencils of Promise."

When Braun told people about his plan to quit his job, it was not received well, but it didn't stop him.

“People tended to think I was crazy,” Braun said. “I am not just driven by passion, I am driven by a sense of purpose.”

If you would like to get involved with Pencils of Promise, you can visit their website and launch a personal fundraiser, or start an on-campus chapter. You can also pick up a copy Braun’s book, "The Promise of a Pencil." All profits go directly to the organization. 

Read More

Comments

More from The Daily

Most Popular

Sponsored Stories

More from our partners
Loading Recent Classifieds...