Last Sunday, cartooning legends assembled at the Society of Illustrators in New York City to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s Kids Right to Read program. Jeff Smith, creator of Bone and CBLDF board member, hosted the event. He welcomed CBLDF supporters and guests of honor, including Mutts creator Patrick McDonnell, Battling Boy author Paul Pope, Amelia Rules! creator Jimmy Gownley, The New Yorker cartoonists Liza Donnelly and Michael Maslin, and Beanworld author and CBLDF President Larry Marder. Everyone who attended this exclusive event enjoyed an unforgettable afternoon celebrating comics and the freedom to read.
Before enjoying original artwork in the Society’s galleries, guests were treated to the premiere of Smith’s new series, Tuki Save The Humans, which Smith read to live music. Pope took attendees on a personal tour of his Battling Boy art show, currently hanging in the Society gallery, while Donnelly and Maslin were on hand to talk about the dozens of illustrations from their extensive collection on view in the Hall of Fame gallery.
Following Smith’s reading and a Q&A, guests retired to the Society’s famed dining room to enjoy an extraordinary brunch alongside these comics greats. As guests departed, they received a gift bag that included Jimmy Gownley’s new comics memoir The Dumbest Idea Ever! and an exclusive souvenir print signed by Smith. This magical afternoon raised nearly $5,000 for CBLDF’s efforts on behalf of the freedom to read!
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- CBLDF President Larry Marder and Paul Pope at the CBLDF Benefit Brunch
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- CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein and Meryl Jaffe talk Raising A Reader at the CBLDF Benefit Brunch
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- CBLDF President Larry Marder and Mutts creator Patrick McDonnell at CBLDF Benefit Brunch
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- Jeff Smith, Jimmy Gownley, and Team Scholastic at the CBLDF Benefit Brunch!
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- Michael Maslin in conversation with Patrick and Karen McDonnell
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- Raising A Reader author Meryl Jaffe at the CBLDF Benefit Brunch!
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- Brunching at the CBLDF Benefit!
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- Jimmy Gownley and Scholastic’s Phil Falco sharing a laugh at the CBLDF Benefit Brunch
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- Scholastic’s David Saylor and Adam Rao goof on each other as Cassandra Pelham looks on.
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- The VIP table, enjoying an intimate meal with Jeff Smith at the CBLDF Benefit Brunch
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- Brunch is served!
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- Patrick and Karen McDonnell, Meryl Jaffe, and Jimmy Gownley watch Jeff Smith’s Tuki presentation at CBLDF Benefit Brunch
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- Paul Pope quizzes Jeff Smith at CBLDF Benefit Brunch
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- Jeff Smith talking Tuki at the CBLDF’s Kids’ Right to Read Benefit Brunch
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- A page from Tuki Save the Humans
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- Jeff Smith introduces Tuki at CBLDF Benefit Brunch
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- Jeff Smith premieres Tuki Save The Humans at CBLDF Benefit Brunch