PEN America raised more than $2 million at its annual fundraising gala Thursday night at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, as the century-old literary organization confronts what it describes as a surge in book removals from schools and libraries nationwide. The event comes amid heightened tensions over local control of educational content and parental rights in determining age-appropriate materials for children.
Author and bookseller Ann Patchett accepted the PEN/Audible Literary Service Award and reflected on the museum setting's broader lessons. "The history of nature is made up of both extreme beauty and violence, volcanoes and butterflies, shifting tectonic plates and marsupials, the bones of the stegosaurus and the light of Milky Way," Patchett said. She added, "To spend a day in this museum is to understand that the world had plenty of action before we got here, and it will continue to have plenty of action. And so, let us marvel that people still want to write books, and that we want to read them."
The Censorship Debate
The gala took place as writers and journalists face persecution worldwide and after recent reports from PEN and the American Library Association documented what they characterize as a continued surge in book bans in the U.S., with thousands of works being pulled from schools and libraries. The characterization of these removals as "bans" remains contested, with many communities arguing they are exercising legitimate oversight over taxpayer-funded institutions and protecting minors from sexually explicit or age-inappropriate content.
PEN co-CEO Summer Lopez framed the issue in stark terms. "First, they come for your freedom of expression. Without that freedom to raise your voice, it is much easier to strip away all of your other rights," Lopez said. She added, "We believe that hidden in the horrors of this moment is also an opportunity — to mobilize people and ignite a movement for free expression, here and everywhere."
Award Recipients and Speakers
Film producer Jason Blum, whose credits range from Jordan Peele's Oscar-nominated "Get Out" to the horror franchises "Halloween" and "Paranormal Activity," received PEN's Business Visionary award. He was introduced by actor-singer Maya Hawke, who described him as her godfather and an ongoing role model who "builds a safe and boundaried structure and then gives creatives freedom and control within that. Like a good father, or godfather."
Blum drew historical parallels to criticism of new storytelling forms. He said horror films do not have a rich history of critical praise and read insults he said he had come across, including "For the young, the ignorant, and the idle" and "Extremely provocative of that sensation in the palate and throat which leads to nausea." He said those remarks dated to the 19th century and were directed at the mass market sensation of the time, the novel. "So all forms of storytelling, especially when they're new and different, need protection from the forces of snobbery and suppression," he said.
The gala was hosted by author-actor B.J. Novak. Amy Tan, Walter Isaacson and Rebecca Yarros were among the table hosts.
International and Local Recognition
The Iranian writer-dissidents Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee and Ali Asadollahi received the PEN/Barbery Freedom to Write Award, given to writers who have faced government harassment and imprisonment. PEN President Dinaw Mengestu said neither was able to attend and that their absence was signified by two empty chairs. He asked the audience to imagine a time of no empty chairs "on this stage or on any stage in this world."
The Tennessee-based activists Tatiana Silvas and Keri Lambert received one of the night's longest ovations for their anti-censorship Rutherford County Library Alliance, which has fought book bans in the Rutherford area. The alliance won the PEN/Benenson Courage Award. Lambert said, "Libraries are not simply buildings filled with books. They are one of the few institutions that truly belong to everyone, regardless of age, income, background or beliefs." She added, "Defending libraries is really about defending democracy itself. A healthy community depends on informed citizens, open dialogue and the freedom to explore ideas. Libraries make all of that possible."
Why This Matters:
The $2 million raised by PEN America reflects the organization's financial capacity to influence the ongoing debate over library and school content policies, a debate that fundamentally involves questions of local governance and parental authority over publicly funded institutions. While PEN frames book removals as threats to free expression, many communities view their actions as responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources and protection of children from materials parents deem inappropriate. The tension between centralized advocacy organizations and local school boards represents a broader question about who controls educational content and library collections paid for by local taxpayers. The recognition of international dissidents alongside domestic library activists conflates genuine government persecution abroad with democratic debate over age-appropriate content at home, raising questions about proportionality in the organization's advocacy priorities.