Skip to main content

Toti.com

'The 5 Love Languages' Author Gary Chapman to Headline Lifeline Family Center Annual Benefit Dinner

Mar 03, 2018 03:24PM ● By Kevin
Dr. Gary Chapman, author of "The 5 Love Languages" is the keynote speaker at this year's Annual Benefit Dinner for Lifeline Family Center. The event takes place on March 22, with a VIP reception kicking things off at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the speech at 6:30. It will be held at McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers.

All proceeds of the Annual Benefit Dinner with Dr. Gary Chapman benefit the center's nonprofit rehabilitation program for pregnant young women. Lifeline offers a two-year residential, counseling, education and childcare program for at-risk pregnant young women, ages 16-25, and their babies.

Young women at Lifeline have an opportunity to complete career training, attend professional counseling sessions and restore their lives through holistic programming that includes exercise, art, sewing, cooking, budgeting, parenting, character classes, and spiritual guidance.

"Their children attend the educational child care program, free of charge, and begin life, trauma free, with encouragement and love," said Lifeline's public relations and marketing director Ashleigh Chevalier.

Chapman has tailored his keynote speech for married couples, singles and parents of teenagers and younger children. Lifeline has been sharing Chapman's book with its residents and was able to secure Chapman as the speaker through his agency.

"There is something for everyone to learn about loving the special people in our lives," Chevalier said.

Paul Lodato, general manager of CTN10, is the Master of Ceremonies for the event. The evening will also include a musical performance, a testimony from Katherina Ortiz, a Lifeline graduate who now works at Lifeline, as well as celebrate the 70th birthday of Founder and CEO Kathy Miller. Dinner and dessert is included in the price of admission: $80 per person, or $440 for a table of eight. Tickets are available at BenefitDinnerLFC.org, by calling 239-242-7238, or in person at The Christ Centered Life Store.

"This is a benefit to celebrate life and 'Transformation by Love,'" Chevalier said.

At the event, 170 young women and more than 300 children who have been touched by Lifeline's program will be honored. The center celebrated its 22nd anniversary on Feb. 15.

"We would not be where we are today without God and the support and prayers of many, as we do not accept any local, state, or federal government funding," Chevalier said, also giving thanks to event sponsors: Jerry and Dee Horne, Glenn and Ada Ann Healey, First Assembly of Fort Myers, Best Western, Riverfront Hotel, CTN10, The Christ Centered Life Store, Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, Carla Kluch RealtorĀ®, and Francie Burns.

Those interested in making an impact can volunteer with the center's nursery, as an academic tutor, to help with mailings, and more, by emailing [email protected]; become a sponsor by emailing [email protected]; donate by visiting givelfc.org; or participate in the group's annual LIFEwalk, which takes place this Dec. 1 at Jaycee Park in Cape Coral.