About the Author
Polly Basore was raised and educated in the college town of Stillwater,
Oklahoma, where she received a B.S. degree in journalism from
Oklahoma State University in 1989. Wanderlust took her to New York City,
Moscow and Washington, D.C. to chase big-city dreams. While in NYC,
she obtained a M.S. degree from the Columbia University Graduate
School of Journalism.
A new job, motherhood, and affordable housing prices led her to adopt
Wichita as her new hometown in 1998.
She spent nearly 15 years as a journalist, covering Congress and the
Clinton administration as Washington correspondent, then working as an
editor of nationally award-winning journalism at The Wichita Eagle.
In 2003, she left journalism to start AngelWorks, a philanthropy that partners
with non-profits to ease human suffering. A social entrepreneur, Basore has
published three books, "Santa's Stray," "A Piano for Christmas" and "What
Heaven Left Behind," that raise money for charities. Her latest book, "All is
Bright," is due for release in July 2006. Her first book, "Santa's Stray,"
raised nearly $86,000 for The Lord's Diner, a Wichita soup kitchen.
Basore is a frequent public speaker and a member of the Wichita Rotary
Club. She teaches creative writing to school children through Wichita's Arts
Partners organization. For her contributions to the community, the Wichita
Business Journal recognized her with a "40 Under 40" Award in 2006.
Basore makes her home with son Henry and six cats, including Sunflower,
pictured above.
