New York Times best-selling author Adam Braun is scheduled to present at the weekly Walla Walla University chapel program, CommUnity, on April 11 at 11 a.m. in the University Church. Braun is the co-founder and CEO of MissionU and the founder and previous CEO of Pencils of Promise, an award-winning organization that has built more than 380 schools around the world. His book, The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change, debuted at No. 2 on the New York Times best-seller list and went on to become a No. 1 national best-seller.
Braun began working during summers in hedge funds when he was 16 years old and was on the path to a successful Wall Street career before an unforgettable encounter changed the course of his life. While traveling abroad as a college student, he met a young boy on the streets of India who, when asked what he wanted most in the world, simply answered, “A pencil.” This simple answer became Adam’s inspiration for starting Pencils of Promise, a nonprofit organization that builds schools and increases access to education for children in the developing world. With his unique “for-purpose” approach, he led the organization in raising more than $30M that has helped build more than 380 schools around the world since 2009. Braun’s efforts are now focused on reimagining the higher education system in the United States through his newest venture, MissionU.
Braun graduated from Brown University. He speaks at conferences, colleges, and Fortune 500 companies spreading his vision and passion for education. He has spoken at The White House, the United Nations, and the Clinton Global Initiative. In 2015, Braun received the Jefferson Award, the nation’s most prestigious award for public service. He has been featured in Business Insider’s 40 Under 40 List, Wired Magazine’s Smart List of 50 People Changing the World, Forbes 30 Under 30 List, and was selected as one of the World Economic Forum’s original ten Global Shapers.
CommUnity is held at the University Church, 212 S.W. Fourth St., College Place. This event is free and open to the public.
Posted April 10, 2017
