The Center for Fiction’s 2022 Annual Awards Benefit is a celebration of the power of storytelling. Please join us as we honor Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka for a Lifetime of Excellence in Fiction and celebrate his achievements with a conversation featuring celebrated author and academic Henry Louis Gates, Jr. We will also honor Editor-in-Chief of Riverhead Books Sarah McGrath with the 2022 Medal for Editorial Excellence, presented by author Brit Bennett, and recognize Kenneth Chenault, our Honorary Benefit Chair. Too—and much anticipated— we will announce the winner of the 2022 First Novel Prize from among the seven finalists, presented by author Rebecca Makkai. The evening will feature performances by internationally acclaimed virtuoso jazz pianist and composer Marta Sánchez. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jennifer Egan will emcee.

Funds raised by the Annual Awards Benefit support our public literary events, KidsRead / KidsWrite programming for New York City public schools, and The Center for Fiction / Susan Kamil Emerging Writer Fellowships. 

For further information, please contact us at benefit2022@centerforfiction.org.