Best selling author Jeannette Walls to headline Hopelink luncheon

Jeannette Walls, who wrote the best-selling memoir The Glass Castle, will deliver the keynote address at Hopelink’s 17th annual Reaching Out Benefit Luncheon, Monday October 15 at Bellevue’s Meydenbauer Center.

Walls will share her true story of growing up in poverty, the impact it had on her life, and how organizations like Hopelink provide a critical safety net to parents, their children, and many others in our community facing hunger and homelessness.

The annual Reaching Out luncheon enables Hopelink, the largest social services agency serving east and north King County, to continue ensuring that tens of thousands of local at-risk families and individuals navigate the journey from vulnerability and crisis to independence and stability. The agency is celebrating its 40th year of helping homeless and low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities get back on their feet. Last year’s luncheon raised $1.2 million to pay for vital services.

Walls’ memoir The Glass Castle was published in 2006 and spent more than four years on the New York Times best-sellers list. The inspiring story has sold more than 3.5 million copies in the United States, been translated into 22 languages, and was named one of the "Top 10 Books of the Decade" by Amazon.com. As a journalist, Walls’ work has appeared in New York Magazine, Esquire, USA Today, and on MSNBC.

In The Glass Castle, Walls describes growing up in the desert of the American Southwest and then in a West Virginia mining town with her three siblings and the brilliant, unorthodox, irresponsible parents who manage at once to neglect them, love them, and teach them to face their fears.

The story is at times harrowing and at times hilarious as the children go without food and indoor plumbing yet are encouraged to read Shakespeare and dream of the beautiful glass house they will all one day build. Despite her hardships, Walls develops the determination to leave West Virginia on her own at the age of 16, move to New York City, enroll in Barnard College and eventually become a well-known columnist for New York magazine and MSNBC.com and a television personality.

This inspirational book has been taught at universities in courses on literature, psychology, parenting, child development, and poverty. Walls has spoken at colleges, corporations, and business associations about overcoming hardship and the keys to turning adversity to your advantage.

The Hopelink Reaching Out benefit luncheon will be held on Monday, October 15, 2012, from noon to 1:15 p.m. at Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th St. in Bellevue, WA. There is no charge to attend the luncheon, but during the program guests will be asked to make a donation in support of Hopelink’s services. Comcast is the Presenting Sponsor for the event. More information or to register.

Since 1971, Hopelink has served homeless and low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities in north and east King County by promoting self-sufficiency for all members of our community and helping people make lasting change. Hopelink meets the need for food, shelter, family development and stabilization, transportation and adult literacy skills. For more information on Hopelink and its services, call 425-869-6000.