Océ Future Authors Project to be Unveiled at Book Signing
BOCA RATON, FL—Oct. 6, 2011—Océ, a Canon Group company and an international leader in digital document management, announced that on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, the lives of about 40 Palm Beach middle and high school students will be changed forever. The students will become real published authors, as their book “Blood, Sweat & Words” will be unveiled for the first time at an official book signing.
The new authors, who participated in the sixth annual Océ Future Authors Project writing workshop during the summer, will join parents, school officials and community leaders for the book signing at the City of Boca Raton Public Library at Spanish River at 1501 NW Spanish River Blvd, starting at 9:30 a.m. After a short program, which will include student readings, attendees can have copies of the book signed by the young authors. The event is free and open to the public.
Extra copies of the book will be on sale at the library for $5 each. All proceeds benefit the District of Palm Beach Education Foundation and the Océ Future Authors Project.
Océ began the program in 2006 in partnership with School District of Palm Beach County. The program was created as a way to inspire young people to pursue their love of writing and reading. During the eight-day free writing workshop, participants hear from well-known authors, learn new writing skills from licensed language arts teachers, and are coached through a variety of writing exercises. As a result, students improve their writing and critical thinking skills, develop an understanding of how authors are published, and learn about today’s digital print and publishing opportunities. Student writings are then compiled, professionally published and digitally printed in final book form on Océ production printing system equipment.
This year’s program was made possible thanks to generous grants from the Lawrence Sanders Foundation; Maroone, an AutoNation Company; and Xplor International, a not-for-profit educational and networking association serving users and suppliers of document technologies.
“During times of deep budget cuts and program eliminations, public-private partnerships like this are more valuable than ever. We are so grateful that we continue to be able to offer this unique opportunity to our students,” said Janis Andrews, Ed.D., assistant superintendent. “Programs like this demonstrate the difference creative public-private partnerships can make in the delivery of quality educational opportunities. We salute companies like Océ North America and all of the sponsors who have invested in Palm Beach County students through this successful program.”
Francis McMahon, vice president of marketing, production printing systems at Océ North America, says his company is proud to support a program that enriches the educational experience for so many budding authors. “Watching the students become published authors and light up when they see their book for the first time is priceless,” he said. “Their expressions of delight confirm that we have achieved the goal we set out to accomplish – cultivating a passion for writing and reading among the next generation of writers.”
For more information on how to become a sponsor or make a donation to the program, contact Mary Kay Murray, Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Education Foundation, at murraymk@palmbeach.k12.fl.us.
For more information about the Océ Future Authors Project, visit www.oceusa.com/futureauthors.
About Océ
Océ is one of the leading providers of document management and printing for professionals. The Océ offering includes office printing and copying systems, high speed digital production printers and wide format printing systems for both technical documentation and color display graphics. Océ is also a foremost supplier of document management outsourcing. Many of the Fortune Global 500 companies and leading commercial printers are Océ customers. The company was founded in 1877. With headquarters in Venlo, The Netherlands, Océ is active in over 100 countries and employs more than 20,000 people worldwide. Total revenues in financial 2010 amounted to approximately €2.7 billion. Océ is listed on Euronext in Amsterdam.
Océ North America is headquartered in Trumbull, CT, with additional business units in Chicago, IL and Boca Raton, FL. North America represents 34 percent of Océ’s worldwide revenues, and employment is over 8,000. http://www.oceusa.com
Source: Océ.