The William Kennedy Endowment Fund for the Writers Institute
In honor of William Kennedy's 90th birthday and his founding of the New York State Writers Institute at the University at Albany 35 years ago, we are establishing the William Kennedy Endowment Fund. Our goal is to raise $90,000 for Bill’s 90th birthday on January 16, 2018.
UPDATE: Thank you to all of our loyal donors who have supported this endowment! Join us for a community celebration of Bill’s 90th birthday. The City of Albany will recognize this milestone and his establishment of the NYS Writers Institute with a ceremony 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 31, at Albany City Hall, 24 Eagle Street, downtown Albany. Free and open to the public.
Why Support This Campaign?
Nobody has done more than Bill to put Albany on the literary map and to create one of the nation’s pre-eminent organizations devoted to the celebration of writing in all its forms. We have presented thousands of captivating literary events featuring writers from across the globe and around the corner.
The Writers Institute is a cultural gem of the Capital Region. We are the house that Bill built. It is a warm and inviting place, ringing with laughter, where everyone feels at home, where the red wine and stimulating conversation flow -- free and open to the public.
We invite you to join us in this rare opportunity to create a meaningful endowment that will ensure a bright future for the Writers Institute and its outstanding literary programs.