New York Time Best-Selling Author Marianne Williamson To Speak at Belle Haven Benefit

Fairfield County’s Inner-City Foundation 25th Anniversary Luncheon June 1st 

Internationally acclaimed spiritual author, lecturer and #1 New York Times best-selling author Marianne Williamson will speak in Greenwich on June 1st at a benefit held by Fairfield County’s Inner-City Foundation for Charity & Education. The benefit, the charity’s 25th anniversary and third annual Ladies Luncheon at The Belle Haven Club, will also feature speakers who have been affected by the charity’s work. Comedienne, story-teller and Greenwich resident Bonnie Levison will serve as master of ceremonies for the event. 

Marianne Williamson is a New York Times best-selling author several times over. A popular guest on television programs such as Oprah, Larry King Live, Good Morning America,  Charlie Rose & Bill Maher, seven of her 12 published books have been New York Times best sellers. Four of these have been #1, including her wildly popular first book, A Return to Love, considered a must-read of The New Spirituality. A quote from the book which reads, in part, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure…” is considered an anthem for a contemporary generation of seekers.

Marianne’s other books include The Law of Divine Compensation, The Age of Miracles, Everyday Grace, A Woman’s Worth, Illuminata, Enchanted Love, Healing the Soul of America, A Course in Weight Loss, The Gift of Change, A Year of Miracles, and her newest book, Tears to Triumph: The Spiritual Journey from Suffering to Enlightenment. 

A native of Houston, Texas, Marianne founded Project Angel Food in 1989, a meals-on-wheels program that serves homebound people with AIDS in the Los Angeles area. To date, Project Angel Food has served more than 10 million meals. Marianne also co-founded the Peace Alliance, and serves on the Board of Directors of the RESULTS organization, working to end the worst ravages of hunger and poverty throughout the world. 

Bonnie Levison, who lives in Greenwich, will be the event’s master of ceremonies on June 1. A lead storytelling instructor with The Moth, an acclaimed not-for-profit organization dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling, Bonnie has performed stories on The Moth Mainstage and Story Slams as well as appeared on the Podcast and The Moth Radio Hour on NPR.  A co-founder of the Nantucket Comedy Festival, Bonnie produces comedy and storytelling shows and created and hosts Greenwich Historical Society's long running "Story Barn.” 

Proceeds from the June 1 benefit featuring Ms. Williamson will provide critical funding for The Inner-City Foundation’s support of programs serving the neediest families in Fairfield County, and this year’s event is particularly important as a cornerstone for the charity’s 25th Year Appeal. The foundation hopes to raise $2.5 million with their appeal this year, more than twice what they typically raise in a year.

“We felt it was the right time to set the bar high,” says Richard T. Stone, executive director of The Inner-City Foundation of the charity’s 25th Year Appeal goal.  “Need is up but funding is down. State budget cuts last year have had a devastating impact on the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Last April more than $70 million was cut from Connecticut’s state budget. Cuts have hit local education and area “safety net” services hard, with $31 million cut from education funding for municipalities and $40 million cut from programs providing food, shelter and medical aid. Needy children and families have been especially affected.

The Ladies Luncheon is being chaired by Audrey Dornier, Helen FitzPatrick, Janie Gestal, Missy O’Shaughnessy, Pam Pagnani and Geri Roper, all of Greenwich. The event is generously sponsored by Chuda, PHACE BIOACTIVE, and Richards and the Mitchell Stores. Media sponsors include Fairfield County Look, Greenwich Magazine/Moffly Media, and The Greenwich Sentinel. 

For tables and tickets to the Ladies Luncheon on June 1st or for more information about The Inner-City Foundation or to donate, visit The Inner-City Foundation for Charity & Education at www.innercityfoundation.org, email communications@innercityfoundation.org or call 203.416.1363.