OnWord 2025

The American Writers Museum’s annual benefit, OnWord, will take place on September 8, 2025 at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago.

Reception: 6:00 pm
Dinner: 7:00 pm

We hope to see you there!

SPECIAL GUEST PRESENTER

Peter Sagal

Host of NPR’s Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!

THE FOUNDER’S INSPIRING WRITER AWARD

David Grann

Best selling author of Killers of the Flower Moon, The Wager, and others

INSPIRATION AWARD

Presented by Brit Bennett

Best-selling author of The Mothers and The Vanishing Half

BEYOND THE PAGE HONOREES

Scott Turow

Best-selling author and advocate for writers

Jerre and Mary Joy Stead

Philanthropists and Civic Leaders

EVENT CO-CHAIRS

Roxanne Decyk

Brenda Grusecki

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• THE FOUNDER’S INSPIRING WRITER AWARD: David Grann interviewed by Peter Sagal

• INSPIRATION AWARD: Presented by writer Brit Bennett to her former teacher, Christine Esteban

• JOHN ESTEY STUDENT WRITING COMPETITION: Celebration of Winners

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2025 JOHN ESTEY STUDENT WRITING COMPETITION