Main Library
96 S. Grant Ave.
7 p.m. Program
8 p.m. Dinner
9 p.m. Book Signing
10 p.m. Event Concludes
Ann Patchett is a bestselling author known for her novels Bel Canto, Commonwealth and The Dutch House, with her work translated into over 30 languages and celebrated worldwide. Patchett has received numerous literary awards, including the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize for Fiction, and her books have been adapted into films and television. Her storytelling is renowned for its deep exploration of human relationships, identity and the intricate connections that define us.
In addition to her writing, Ann Patchett is the co-owner of Parnassus Books, an independent bookstore in Nashville, Tennessee, where she champions the importance of local literary communities. She is also a passionate advocate for literacy and the arts, frequently speaking on the transformative power of reading and the role of literature in shaping our lives.
Ann Patchett currently lives in Nashville with her husband and dog, Nemo.
As we celebrate this year, we’re thrilled to hear from Ann, whose remarkable storytelling continues to captivate and inspire readers around the world. Her ability to illuminate the human experience through her novels perfectly aligns with the spirit of our celebration.
Announcing the 2022 Awardees and Honorary Chairs
David Brown, The Harmony Project
The Harmony Project’s founder David Brown is an acclaimed conductor, producer and community builder whose work transcends stages, boundaries, and expectations. From Carnegie Hall to correctional institutions, from national television to small-town neighborhoods, David has employed the arts to create uncommon spaces for connection and belonging. Brown has spent 30 years utilizing music to unite people across cultural differences.
Brown has conducted choirs behind Grammy-winning artists and produced sold-out performances at Lincoln Center, the Apollo Theater, Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, The Ohio Theatre, and Nationwide Arena. His work has been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley, and in O, The Oprah Winfrey Magazine. He was the subject of Finding Harmony—an original ABC/Hulu special—and has spoken at national gatherings including The Nantucket Project and The Chautauqua Institution.
David has created original programming in schools, prisons, shelters, board rooms, and theatre spaces —reminding people that harmony can happen anywhere. His unique approach does not require musical experience. Brown requires every singer to earn their way to the performance stage by giving back in service to their local community, generating thousands of hours of volunteer engagement each year. He is the recipient of the Spirit of Columbus Award of The Columbus Foundation, the Norman Vincent Peale Award, New Yorker of the Week, and numerous honors from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Specials featuring Brown’s work with Harmony Project Productions have received two Emmy Awards and a Telly Award, and garnered support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Ford Foundation.
In 2015, Brown became a father through the adoption of two sons, Chrisbian and Kulay, who both graduated from Columbus State Community College and Capital University and now work in the non-profit sector.
Christie Angel and
Councilmember Otto Beatty
Otto Beatty and Christie Angel are a dynamic Columbus-based couple whose combined decades of leadership span public service, business, real estate and nonprofit impact. Together, they represent a powerful commitment to expanding development in Central Ohio.
Appointed to Columbus City Council in 2025 to represent District 7, Otto Beatty brings over 30 years of experience in business, law and real estate. A lifelong resident of Columbus, he has played a critical role in advancing affordable housing, supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs and driving economic development throughout the city. His work has earned him repeated recognition on Columbus Business First’s Power 100 List.
Christie Angel currently serves as Managing Partner at BroadView Talent Partners, where she specializes in executive leadership development and onboarding. Previously, she led YWCA Columbus through a nationally recognized brand transformation as CEO, championing women’s equity and inclusion. Christie has earned numerous accolades; including the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission’s 2023 Regional Leadership Award and the 2020 CEO of the Year honor from Columbus CEO magazine.
They remain deeply engaged in central Ohio by serving on numerous boards, mentoring emerging leaders and advancing initiatives that foster development in Columbus.
Patrick Losinski
Pat Losinski, former CEO of Columbus Metropolitan Library from 2002 – 2024, not only led the library to meet the needs of its customers but also redefined the role of public libraries across the nation. We are grateful for this opportunity to honor his contributions to CML’s history and pathway forward.
During his 22 years in the role, Losinski led CML to:
- Adopt three strategic focuses: Young Minds, My Library and Life Skills
- Implement system-wide School Help Centers to provide after-school support for K-12 students
- Earn Library Journal’s “Library of the Year” honors in 2010 and the Institute of Museum & Library Services’ (IMLS) National Medal in 2011
- Renovate or rebuild 18 of CML’s locations, including its Main Library
- Eliminate overdue fines for borrowed materials
- Welcome nearly 4,000 library professionals from 135 countries to Columbus for the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions’ (IFLA) annual World Library and Information Congress in 2016
- Adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing testing kits, partnering with Battelle for scientific study of the disease on print materials and more
- Speak out against efforts to censor or remove public library materials
- Serve as co-chair of the Franklin County Digital Equity Coalition to address the growing digital divide that sees one-in-five households lacking access to broadband internet
- Champion diversity, equity and inclusion – both in CML’s hiring practices and in its programs and partnerships
Prior to joining CML, Losinski served as executive director of Pikes Peak Library District in Colorado Springs. He has worked for public library systems in Wisconsin, Illinois, Colorado and Ohio and served on the state library boards in Illinois and Colorado. He served as chair of the Urban Libraries Council and on the Governing Board of IFLA, headquartered in the Hague, Netherlands.
Columbus CEO magazine named him 2015 CEO of the Year in the large non-profit category. He was also awarded the 2017 Regional Leadership Award by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and in 2018 received Columbus Business First’s C-Suite Awards for Most Admired Executive and Lifetime Achievement.
Currently, Pat Losinski is the Senior Advisor for Library Services at Gresham Smith, an architectural and engineering firm headquartered in Nashville, TN. He assists Gresham Smith with design strategies for public library clients throughout the U.S.
Pat resides in Scottsdale, AZ with his wife Victoria who was an art teacher at New Albany Schools for 23 years. They have two adult children — John and Abby – who both live in Scottsdale.
Celebration of Learning Honorary Chairs
Veronica Meinhard and Kristina Johnson
Each year the Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation selects an individual or couple who have shown great appreciation and support for the important role of libraries in our community.
Shannon Morgan and Marjorie Duffy
Elaina Biffle
Tanisha Lyon Brown
Laney Burgdoerfer
Beth Cavendish
Mary Jo Conte
Sue Cooper
Barb Derrow
Marjorie Duffy – Co-Chair
Charlie Fraas
Rhonda Fraas
Scott Gaines
DeeDee Glimcher
Jennifer Massanova
Jennifer McNally
Lauren Hilsheimer Meier
Autumn Glover
Chrissy Hand
Ali Haque
Tracy Harrison
Charlotte Kessler
Megan Kilgore
Patrick King
Vicki Linville
Amy Milbourne
Katharine Moore
Shannon Morgan – Co-Chair
Cordelia Westwater Robinson
Renée Shumate
Barbara Siemer
Rachel A. Smoot
Jim Weiler
Hope Wolman
Frank Zonars
Chrissa Zonars
AndHealth
Crane Group
Thompson Hine LLP
Buckeye Innovation
IGS Energy
ThriftBooks
Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP
The Barbara W and Philip R Derrow Family Foundation
Linda and Frank Kass
Jennifer Massanova and Lou Von Thaer
Siemer Family Foundation
Tim and Marilu Faber
Sandra Doyle-Ahern and Michael Ahern
Mary and Tom Katzenmeyer
Kate and Joe Hagan
Lane and John Rothschild
Paul L. Smith, Jr.
Linda Larrimer and Hugh Westwater
Mary Jo Conte
Carol Andreae and James Garland
Lisal and Don Gorman
Anne and Bill Remias
Sue Cooper
Beth Crane and Richard McKee
Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
96 S. Grant Ave. | Columbus, Ohio 43215
