by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
The 2007-08 Florida Forum speakers have been announced and this year’s speakers range from a billionaire to a former NFL running back.
The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital will present a star-studded line-up for this year’s Forum that includes: Anderson Cooper, award-winning reporter and CNN news anchor; Sir Richard Branson, music industry and air travel entrepreneur; Larry Kudlow, economist, CEO, TV host and commentator; and Tiki Barber, broadcaster, former NFL running back and author.
Although there isn’t a woman in the 16th annual Florida Forum line-up, 2007-08 co-chair Stacy Berg said this isn’t the first time a woman speaker didn’t make the line-up. Mervin Denny is also a 2007-08 co-chair.
“We have four men this year,” said Berg. “It was really hard to find a woman who would have a draw.”
Berg added past speakers’ Forums have included former First Lady Barbara Bush, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and “CBS Evening News” anchor Katie Couric. But, she said next year may warrant a few highly-recognizable women speakers including Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.
“Sometimes they (women) just aren’t there,” she said. “This year was a hard year and we are trying to raise money for the hospital.”
All proceeds from the Florida Forum go directly to Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
“We are finishing our commitment to Children’s Surgical Services. It is about a two- to three-year commitment,” said Berg.
The hospital performs more than 10,000 surgeries a year and 98 percent of the children in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia have their surgeries performed at Wolfson.
“They have $11 million per year in uncompensated funds,” she said. “It is important for the public to know that.”
Last year, The Women’s Board wrote a check for $1.5 million to Wolfson Children’s Hospital. That included the Florida Forum and the annual Antique Show. The Florida Forum alone raised $561,000. The 2006-07 speakers included U.S. Sen. Zell Miller, Bob Woodward, Tim Russert and Couric.
Berg said it’s not easy to find speakers because of costs, availability and whether or not they will draw a crowd. The chairs for each year, as well as an advisory board, select the speakers based primarily on availability and the results of a survey that is sent out each year to the public.
“Sometimes it takes us three or four people until we find one speaker,” she said.
Berg said they wanted to try and steer away from having so many news figures. And this year features speakers with diverse backgrounds.
Branson, founder of Virgin Records and an air travel entrepreneur, will speak Nov. 13. He also began Virgin Atlantic Airways in the early 1980s and most recently he launched Virgin Galactic, a space tourism business.
Berg said it was difficult landing Branson — and not just this year.
“He doesn’t do very many of these types of things,” said Berg. “We have asked him before and he said ‘no’ but he has decided to come now.”
According to Forbes.com, Branson’s net worth is $3.9 billion.
Many people don’t know that Barber is more than a former running back for the New York Giants. He and his brother Ronde Barber are also award-winning children’s book authors, said Berg. After retiring from the NFL earlier this year, Barber joined NBC and will be a correspondent for the “Today Show” and an analyst for NBC’s “Football Night in America.” Barber will speak April 8, 2008.
Cooper, who will speak Oct. 20, anchors “Anderson Cooper 360” on CNN. Cooper began his career as a journalist at the age of 28 when he was a correspondent at ABC News.
Kudlow, the founder and CEO of Kudlow & Co., LLC, will speak Feb. 21, 2008. Kudlow & Co. is an economic and investment research firm in New York City. Many also know him as the host of CNBC’s nightly show “Kudlow & Company.”
All Florida Forum speakers will speak at 7 p.m. at the Florida Theatre on the respective dates. Tickets are available now by calling (904) 202-2886, visiting www.thefloridaforum.com or by e-mailing the board at [email protected].