The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital announced the 2012-13 Florida Forum lineup, starting Oct. 2 with Walter Isaacson, the biographer of the late Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple.
The series continues Feb. 2 with former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and concludes March 4 with seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong
The events are scheduled at the Times-Union Center.
Jackie Bargas is president of the board. Florida Forum chairs for the coming series are Martha Baker and Sharon Lucie.
The 2011-12 series concluded Wednesday evening with a lecture by former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Isaacson’s exclusive biography of Jobs has remained on the New York Times and Publisher’s Weekly best-seller lists since its release in October. He is president and CEO of the Aspen Institute and chairman of the board of Teach For America.
Gates made advances in soldier safety, including replacing vehicles in the field with heavily armored vehicles. USA Today said the moves reduced roadside bomb attacks and fatalities by almost 90 percent, according to a release by The Women’s Board.
Armstrong, a cancer survivor and health advocate, is the only professional cyclist to win the Tour de France seven times.
The forum is one of two major benefits produced annually by the all-volunteer Women’s Board. The other is the Art & Antiques Show.
Established in 1973 by civic leader Ellen Cavert, the volunteer board is designed to raise community awareness and to fund resources for Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Since its start, the board has raised more than $22 million for the hospital.
The 2012-2013 Florida Forum will contribute funds for programs and clinical equipment needs in addition to a five-year, $4 million pledge to the Larry J. Freeman Behavioral Health Center, which provides counseling and support for children facing surgery and illness, in some cases terminal.
The center also addresses the full spectrum of psychiatric illness, as well as childhood obesity, eating disorders and depression, among others.
For information about the forum, visit www.thefloridaforum.com or call 202-2886.