BGCA Author Series Brings Fantasy and Passion to Salt Lake City Club Kids
Foley & Lardner’s national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is driven in our 25 North American offices through the commitment and support of our attorneys and business professionals who create unforgettable experiences for youth at local Clubs. This year, Foley is proud to celebrate the five-year anniversary of this impactful partnership.
One of the partnership’s marquee programs, launched in 2023, is the BGCA Author Series. It invites celebrated children’s authors to local Clubs across the country where they lead interactive readings and discussions. Earlier this year, Foley’s Boston office hosted author and artist Harmonia Rosales at the national historic landmark King’s Chapel, and the Milwaukee office hosted local author Allison Hoppe at three different Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee locations.
Most recently, on Friday October 9, Foley’s Salt Lake City office hosted author Eric Bowden for 20 Club teens at the Midvale Club location to discuss his debut fantasy novel The Gidorian Saga: The Golden Academy. In addition to highlighting his book, Eric led an activity for the teens that focused on bringing passions to light with social media. He has built a strong writing and reading community though his Instagram and YouTube accounts (@ericbowdenbooks), and was able to share with the Club kids his lessons learned, both positive and negative, about putting yourself on the internet. Th program also featured an interview with Eric by Club kids Vanessa M. and Kimberly C. that provided attendees with a deeper dive into his origins and inspirations as a fantasy writer, why he decided to start social media channels, and his advice for starting their own.
Each Club kid left the event with inspiration, their own signed copy of The Gidorian Saga: The Golden Academy, and a full stomach!
This was the tenth installment of our BGCA Author series that has featured nine authors across ten cities in the United States and Mexico (and showings of the recordings in many more). This (inter)national initiative is a great way to engage with our local Clubs, provide age-appropriate books to Club kids, and support youth development.
