NEWS RELEASE
Nov. 9, 2006                                

Luncheon nets $75,000 for youth mentoring programs 

SEATTLE --  The Washington State Mentoring Partnership’s second annual “Conversations on Mentoring” event raised $75,000 to benefit state youth mentoring programs such as the Big Brothers Big Sisters of King, Pierce and Jefferson Counties, Communities in Schools of Orting and Grant County Prevention and Recovery Center.

The Nov. 3 luncheon at Qwest Field in Seattle featured candid conversations from well-known luminaries who shared stories about their own mentors and how they try to be mentors themselves.

Speakers included Mariners President Chuck Armstrong;  KCTS Connects host Enrique Cerna; Joni Earl, chief executive officer of Sound Transit; Marie Gunn, Washington president of Bank of America; football great Warren Moon; Fr. Stephen Sundborg, president of Seattle University; Dr. Deborah Wilds, president of the Washington Education Foundation; and former Mariners catcher Dan Wilson. Each spoke with Seattle writer Eric Liu, who authored a book on mentoring. 

Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, co-chair of the Washington State Mentoring Partnership, spoke of youth who are at risk, especially those who are in the foster care system.

 “An overwhelming number leave the foster care system without jobs, stable homes, savings, or people they can count on,” Owen said.

KOMO 4’s Steve Pool was the event emcee. About 250 attended the luncheon. Event sponsors included Costco Wholesale, Lumbermens, Verizon, the Hobi Faltermeier Private Wealth Advisors Private Banking and Investment Group at Merrill Lynch and Second Avenue Partners. 

 
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For more information contact:                     

Washington Mentoring Partnership: Peggy Gray (425) 416-2033 or pgray@washingtonmentoring.org

Office of the Lt. Governor: Brian Dirks (360) 786-7707 or dirks.brian@leg.wa.gov