Author Laura Schroff, An Invisible Thread @ Temple B'nai Abraham

On Monday, April 7, 2014, 7:30 PM,  Temple B'nai Abraham Sisterhood Speaker Series will present best-selling author Laura Schroff, speaking on An Invisible Thread: A Truly Inspirational Story, the true story of an 11-year-old panhandler, a busy sales executive, and an unlikely meeting with destiny. Laura Schroff is a former advertising executive who has helped launch three of the most successful start-ups in Time Inc. history— InStyle, Teen People & People Style Watch. This event is open to the Community. General Admission is  $25 and Students, ages 21 & under, are $10 There will be a book signing to follow with dessert & coffee. An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff & Alex Tresniowski will be available for purchase.  Elena Meinhardt and Deborah Myers are Sisterhood Co- Presidents and Nancy Wolk is chair of this event. To register online at www.tbanj.org   or call 973.994.2290

Laura Schroff is a former advertising executive who has worked with several major media companies, including Time Inc. and Conde Nast. Born and raised on Long Island, Laura was part of the advertising team that madeUSA Today a successful national newspaper. Before helping launch three of the most successful start-ups in Time Inc.history—InStyle, Teen People, and PeopleStyleWatch—she was also the New York Division Manager at People magazine. Laura has also been the New York Ad Manager at Ms. magazine and Associate Publisher at Brides.

Schroff first started thinking about writing a book after an article about her and a boy named Maurice appeared in Good Housekeeping in 1997. That story grew into the bestselling book, An Invisible Thread: The True Story of an 11-year-old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny. by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski  When Schroff first met Maurice on a New York City street corner, she had no idea that she was standing on the brink of an incredible and unlikely friendship that would inevitably change both their lives. As one lunch at McDonald’s with Maurice turns into two, then into a weekly occurrence that is fast growing into an inexplicable connection, she learns heart-wrenching details about Maurice’s horrific childhood. Sprinkled throughout is also Schroff ’s own story of her turbulent childhood. Every now and then, something about Maurice’s struggles reminds her of her past, how her father’s alcohol-induced rages shaped the person she became and, in a way, led her to Maurice. As their friendship grows, Schroff offers Maurice simple experiences he comes to treasure: learning how to set a table, trimming a Christmas tree, visiting her nieces and nephew on Long Island, and even having homemade lunches to bring to school.

She will share with us this heartwarming story of a friendship that has spanned 25 years, that brought life to an over-scheduled professional who had lost sight of family and happiness and hope to a hungry and desperate boy whose family background in drugs and crime and squalor seemed an inescapable fate.