Nationally respected journalist and investigative reporter Lisa Ling will keynote Hopelink’s annual “Reaching Out” benefit luncheon, presented by Comcast, from noon-1:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19 at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, 900 Bellevue Way. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m.
Hopelink does not charge a fee to attend the luncheon, but during the luncheon program, guests will be asked to make a donation to support Hopelink’s services. The suggested minimum donation per person is $150.
Corporate sponsors, such as presenting sponsor Comcast, are significant contributors to this event; a complete list of corporate sponsors is available by request. For more information about the luncheon, please call (425) 897-3703, e-mail rsvp@hope-link.org, or visit www.hope-link.org and click on the red “Reaching Out Benefit Luncheon” button on the homepage.
Known for her recent special reports on tent cities in America and home foreclosures for “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” as well as her work as co-host of ABC’s “The View,” host of “National Geographic Explorer” and reporter on Channel One News, Ling will address the challenges of poverty and workable solutions for families struggling to get by.
As part of Ling’s keynote presentation, she will moderate a discussion on the challenges of, and solutions to poverty, with special guests to be announced later.
The Reaching Out luncheon, Hopelink’s 14th annual, aims to raise $1 million to enable the largest social services agency serving east and north King County to continue meeting the extraordinary needs of families during these extraordinary economic times. Hopelink’s 2008 luncheon, despite the onset of this now-stubborn recession, raised more than $1 million to fund a multitude of services for families, children and senior citizens living in poverty.
Since that time, Hopelink has seen breathtaking rises in requests for food, energy bill, housing and other assistance, including a staggering nearly 50 percent increase in demand at our food banks in the past 18 months, creating a new sense of urgency for raising $1 million – or more – once again.
