Literacy Gala In NYC - A Major Charity Event For A Great Cause

Last night, Bob and I attended a wonderful black tie Gala for Literacy Partners at New York's Lincoln Center. This year's honoree was Leonard Riggio, Chairman of Barnes and Noble, and his wife Louise Riggio. Bob and I were of course, last year's guests of honor at this special annual event.

Special guests at last night's event included: Bestselling author, Michael Connelley, Katie Couric, Whoopi Goldberg and novelist, Stacy Schiff.

Barbara Taylor Bradford with the guest of honor,
Len Riggio, Chairman of Barnes and Noble. In the center is
Mark Jackson, President of Literacy Partners and CEO of
Dow Jones Company.

 Also in attendance was Tom Hooper, director of the 2011 Oscar winning film, The King's Speech, and David Seidler, who wrote the Oscar winning original screenplay.

For those who want to know more about Literacy Partners, and their works, there are currently more than 3.7 million adults in New York reading at less than a fifth grade level who need our help -- and that number is growing. Literacy Partners is serving almost 2000 students and they have hundreds more waiting for a spot in their program, hoping for a chance to learn and write.

Literacy Partners has been able to educate over 35,000 adult students and family members who cannot read or write living in New York City. For those of you who want to contact Literacy Partners for information or donations, please visit: LiteracyPartners.org.

Barbara Taylor Bradford and Robert Bradford with
their Houston guests, Brian Teichman and Andrew Cordes

Robert Bradford with Majorie Reed Gordon and Kate White
Editor & Chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine.

From Left: Robert Bradford, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Len Riggio
Loise Riggio, Mark Jackson and Jackie Weld Drake.

All Photos By Patrick McMullen

My Honorary Doctorate At Mount St. Mary College

Last Saturday, I was honored to have been chosen by Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY to receive an honorary doctorate degree in Letters from the university in front of some 3,000 students and faculty. This is the kind of honor I will cherish always.

That's Me At The Podium Giving My Remarks to the Students.

Speaking before thousands of these young students at this very special commencement ceremony made me feel proud to be an American citizen. They are  the future of our country. They are the young people who will be the leaders in reshaping our world. We must be proud of them and support them in their endeavors as they face an uncertain future.

From left:  Fr. Kevin Mackin OFM, Mount Saint Mary College president;
Fox News Channel anchor Bret Baier; Barbara Taylor Bradford, bestselling author;
Capt. Scott Smiley, commander of the Warrior Transition Unit, West Point;
James W. Taylor Jr., founder, president and chief executive officer of Taylor Biomass Energy LLC;
and R. Abel Garraghan, Mount Saint Mary College board of trustees chair

A special salute of affection to goes to my good friend, Father Kevin Mackin for his tremendous leadership at the university.


The night before my going to the college, I attended a charity gala dinner (The Princess Ball), which was headed up by our dear friends, Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Yugoslavia. The dinner was to raise money for orphaned children in urgent need of medical assistance in Serbia. There's such a great need all over the world for children who require our support and attention.

Another Group Shot.
That's me in the middle.

A Busy Season Of Events In NYC

This has been a busy time in our lives. While I'm trying to finish my new book by the end of this month, we attended a number of social events for charity, which has become a priority in our lives.

Last week, we attended a fabulous evening for the NY Pops at Carnegie Hall, with supper at the Plaza Hotel. Bob and I are very proud to be part of this event, as we were actually part of the founding group creating the orchestra some 25 years ago.

Today, it is comprised of over 100 outstanding musicians. This highly respected orchestra is much thought after around the world.




We also attended the yearly gala/English Ball by the St. George Society of New York, of which we are patrons.

The event honored an outstanding lady, Angela Ahrendts, Chief Executive of Burberry.






I'm looking forward to being honored in one week's time by the prestigious Mt. Saint Mary's College at their commencement, where I will be addressing the graduates and will be awarded an honorary doctorate in literature.

Now, back to my typewriter to wrap up my latest novel, Letter From A Stranger.

My Appearance On Fox Business About The Romance & Economics Of The Royal Wedding