Launching Leaders in the Arts

Launching Leaders in the Arts: Our Signature Community Service Program

For over 30 years, the Sarasota Branch of the National League of American Pen Women has proudly hosted our Annual Launching Leaders in the Arts Awards Program, our main community outreach initiative. The goal is to recognize, support, and award graduating high school seniors in Sarasota and Manatee counties who are pursuing higher education in creative writing, visual art, or music.

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Through collaboration with local teachers, students are encouraged to submit original work in their field for a chance to earn monetary awards to support their first year of college. Our mission is to foster creativity, self-expression, and continued interest in the arts among young people.

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Winners take center stage at our Annual Awards Luncheon, where they showcase their talents by reading excerpts from their writing, exhibiting artwork, and performing musical compositions. This meaningful program began in 1987 thanks to Pen Woman Betty Altman, a dedicated artist and founding chair of the Student Incentive Awards Program. Betty generously supported the awards annually, and following her passing in 2013, her family has continued that tradition through the Altman Foundation until 2025. 

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We deeply appreciate all our supporters and welcome both corporate and private contributions. Your generosity helps ensure we can continue honoring and uplifting the next generation of artists, writers, and musicians.