Actress and literary advocate Sarah Jessica Parker will be honored with PEN America’s Literary Service Award this spring for her contributions to promoting reading and free expression.
The Sex and the City star, known for her long-standing commitment to literacy initiatives, will receive the award at PEN America’s annual spring gala on May 15.
Parker has been actively involved in the literary world, founding her own publishing imprint, SJP Lit, and serving as an executive producer of The Librarians, a documentary against book bans that premiered last month at the Sundance Film Festival.
“Sarah Jessica Parker is pushing back against these bans as an indispensable defender of the freedom to read,” PEN America co-CEO Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf said, highlighting her role in amplifying underrepresented voices in contemporary literature.
The Literary Service Award, previously given to influential writers such as Toni Morrison and Stephen Sondheim, now recognizes both authors and advocates who have significantly contributed to the literary community.
Alongside Parker, Macmillan Publishers CEO Jon Yaged will be honored with PEN America’s Business Visionary Award for his leadership in championing diverse voices and standing against book bans.
“For decades, Jon has been a stalwart defender of the right to read,” PEN America co-CEO Summer Lopez said, praising his advocacy for inclusive publishing.
Previous recipients of the business award include top publishing executives from Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, and Simon & Schuster.
