New York Times bestselling author, educator and activist Erin Gruwell will be the keynote speaker at River Bend Food Bank’s fourth annual Women Fighting Hunger dinner.
Ms. Gruwell began teaching in Long Beach, California, in the mid-1990s, helping students “written off” by the system harness the power of education to graduate high school.
Her students – affectionately called the Freedom Writers – came from backgrounds of poverty, gangs, and violence. Many were at-risk of dropping out of school due to the school-to-prison-pipeline. Under her guidance, all 150 Freedom Writers graduated high school and pursued higher education.
The Thursday, March 28, dinner, which also is open to men, includes an evening of networking and a program featuring Ms. Gruwell. Doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner begins at 6:15 p.m., followed by the program.
In 1999, Ms. Gruwell and the Freedom Writers published their book. The Freedom Writers Diary detailed their unique journey from hardship to hope.
The local Women Fighting Hunger event is being hosted at Rhythm City Casino & Resort, Davenport. It brings together women who are passionate about River Bend’s mission to work to build hunger-free communities. Proceeds will purchase food to support ending hunger in our communities.
The Freedom Writers Diary became a No. 1 New York Times bestseller. It was adapted into a major motion picture. Freedom Writers starred two-time Academy Award-winner Hilary Swank as Erin Gruwell. The film brought Ms. Gruwell’s work to an even wider audience. She has since used her platform to continue her fight for equity and inclusion with her nonprofit, the Freedom Writers Foundation.
Gruwell’s work honored
Ms. Gruwell’s work has been recognized with several humanitarian awards, including the prestigious Spirit of Anne Frank Award.
Tickets for Women Fighting Hunger are $60 a person or $500 for a table of 10. The evening also will include raffles and a a wine pull, Information will also be provided for on how to give back to River Bend Food Bank through education, advocacy, volunteerism or donations.
Group and individual tickets may be purchased here. Bottles of wine may also be pre-ordered.
Jenny Colvin, River Bend Food Bank’s chief development officer, is excited about the community support for Women Fighting Hunger.
“We’re excited that people are still loving it as much as we love putting it on,” she said in a news release. “It’s always a memorable evening and one everyone can feel great about.”
Typically, the event is attended by about 500 women (and men).
This year’s sponsors are: Gold Sponsors – John Deere, Northwest Bank & Trust, The Stations of Our Quad Cities, Rhythm City Casino & Resort, Royal Neighbors of America, SSAB, and Unity Point Health; Silver Sponsors – Diversified Foods Inc., Eye Surgeons Associates, Green State Credit Union, Hanline Fresh Foods, Per Mar, Prairie Farms, Quad City Bank & Trust, River Valley Cooperative and Tyson Foods.
