THREE CUPS OF TEA AUTHOR TO SPEAK AT SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON

When Portlander David Oliver Relin related the tale of his friend, Greg Mortenson, and his heroic struggle to educate the young women in Pakistan in Three Cups of Tea, he didn’t know his book would become a New York Times bestseller.  Nor did he realize what a perfect fit the story was for local all-girls’ school St. Mary’s Academy, whose mission it is to educate, empower, and nurture female students in a non-discriminatory environment.  Thus, the pairing of Relin as keynote speaker for St. Mary’s 15th Annual Food for Thought Scholarship Luncheon on Wednesday, November 12, 2008, provides perfect synergy. 

For two decades, award-winning journalist Relin has focused on reporting about social issues and their effect on children, both in the United States and around the world.  In Three Cups of Tea, Relin tells the stirring tale of Mortenson, an American mountain climber and nurse who becomes an unlikely champion of education for young women through the accidental relationship he developed with a village in a remote region of the Karakoram of Pakistan while returning from a failed attempt to summit K2.  Relin understands the importance of educating young women not only at home, but across the world.  St. Mary’s is very excited that he will be joining the school’s scholarship event this year!

The 15th Annual Food for Thought Scholarship Luncheon will be held at the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower (921 SW Sixth Avenue) on Wednesday, November 12, 2008.  Doors open for the social hour at 11:00 a.m. and the luncheon program begins at noon.  Individual tickets are $75 and table sponsorships begin at $750 (tables seat 10).  For tickets and table sponsorship information or to make a tax-deductible donation to the St. Mary’s Academy tuition assistance program, please contact Courtney Day at (503) 721-7738 or specialevents@stmaryspdx.org.