The 2023-24 Florida Forum Speaker Series, which raises funds for Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, will feature legendary Duke University men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and retired Navy Adm. James Stavridis, an ex-NATO commander.
Krzyzewski will appear Nov. 8, Wozniak Jan. 17 and Stavridis Feb. 26. Each program begins at 7 p.m. at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts.
The Florida Forum is one of two annual events presented by the all-volunteer Women’s Board that raises funds and community awareness for Wolfson, the region’s only dedicated children’s inpatient health care facility. Together, the forum and the First Coast Design Show bring in about $1 million for Wolfson.
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How long was Coach K at Duke?
Known as “Coach K,” Krzyzewski retired in 2021 after 42 seasons at Duke and is an ambassador for the university. He is a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach, five-time national champion and NCAA record 13-time Final Four participant. No coach in Division I men’s basketball history won more games than Krzyzewski’s 1,202, according to his website.
Earlier he coached at Army West Point and finished his career with a 1,202-368 record as a head coach, including a 1,129-309 mark at Duke. In 2005 also he was named head coach of the U.S. National Team, which during his tenure amassed an 88-1 record, including a 24-0 record in the Olympics.
His community work includes serving on boards for the Duke Children’s Hospital, the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research, the NABC Foundation, the CEO Roundtable on Cancer and the Emily Krzyzewski Center. He and his daughter authored two books together: “Beyond Basketball: Coach K’s Keywords for Success” and “The Gold Standard: Building a World-Class Team.”
What is Steve Wozniak known for?
In 1976, Wozniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer Inc. with Wozniak’s Apple I personal computer and the following year introduced Apple II, which featured a central processing unit, keyboard, color graphics and a floppy disk drive.
Apple II was “integral in launching the personal computer industry,” according to his website. In 1985 he received the National Medal of Technology from President Ronald Reagan and in 2000 was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame.
Wozniak later founded the company Unuson, which sponsored festivals in the early 1980s that were intended to celebrate evolving technologies. They ended up as a technology exposition and a rock festival as a combination of music, computers, television and people.
He also has been involved in business and philanthropic ventures that primarily focused on computer capabilities in schools and “experiential learning that encourages creativity and innovation by students,” according to his website.
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Who is James Stavridis?
Stavridis, a four-star admiral, spent 37 years in the Navy. As Supreme Allied Commander Europe at NATO, he oversaw operations in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, the Balkans and counter-piracy off the coast of Africa, according to his website. He also commanded a U.S. destroyer squadron and carrier strike group, both in combat.
He served as senior military assistant to the secretaries of the Navy and Defense. His honors include the Battenberg Cup for commanding the top ship in the Atlantic Fleet, the Navy League John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational leadership and about 50 U.S. and international medals and decorations.
Stavridis has authored 12 books on leadership, the oceans, maritime affairs and Latin America, including a memoir of his NATO years, “The Accidental Admiral.” His TED talk on 21st century security has had over one million views, according to his website.
How much do Florida Forum tickets cost?
For ticket information, go to womensboardwch.com/2023-florida-forum, call (904) 202-2886 or email womensboard@bmcjax.com.
Individual ticket prices for the full series are $150 for patrons under age 30 and $250 for general seating. Other pricier options are available for preferred seating or admission to speaker receptions.
Who spoke at the 2022-23 Florida Forum?
The 2022-23 lineup featured financier and author Bill Browder, television news personality and author Jenna Bush Hager and 11-time Olympic medalist Allyson Felix. The previous year, speakers were country singer Tim McGraw, NFL legend Terry Bradshaw and retired astronaut Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden Jr.
How are proceeds used?
The Women’s Board has committed to raise $1.5 million for a new Kids Kare Mobile ICU, a neonatal and pediatric critical care transport vehicle. The funds would also finance equipment and services necessary for the specialized ambulance to be in operation by 2024, according to the Women’s Board.
Existing Kids Kare vehicles and helicopters annually transport about 2,250 infants and children to Wolfson for emergency critical care, trauma and specialty care. About 15% of them are newborns in need of neonatal intensive care services.
Founded in 1973, the Women’s Board has about 400 members and has since raised $35 million for equipment and facilities at Wolfson. Nationally ranked Wolfson is one of Jacksonville-based Baptist Health’s six hospitals.
bcravey@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4109