Brown to headline speaking menu at 20th annual Hopelink luncheon

Published 2:40 pm Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Food Network host, author and philanthropist Alton Brown will deliver the keynote address at Hopelink’s Reaching Out Benefit Luncheon Oct. 19 at Bellevue’s Meydenbauer Center.

The Reaching Out luncheon — now in its 20th year — is the Redmond-based social services agency’s largest annual fundraising event. Last year’s luncheon raised nearly $1 million to provide food, shelter, family development, transportation and job readiness skills for homeless and low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities in north and east King County.

Although he has appeared on numerous Food Network series, Brown is probably best known for creating and hosting the Peabody Award-winning cooking show “Good Eats,” which merged science, trivia, food and kitchen equipment advice and also garnered Brown a James Beard award for “Best TV Food Personality” in 2011.

Once described as a mix of Julia Child, Mr. Wizard and Monty Python, Brown’s quirky humor and professorial banter have endeared him to TV and live audiences nationwide. A former Boy Scout, he readily admits he learned to cook by watching his mother and grandmother in the kitchen, but learned later on that his culinary talents worked well “as a way to get dates” in college.

Brown supports charities with a mission to end hunger, poverty and homelessness, including Heifer International and Make it Right. He paired with Heifer International to provide livestock to people in need all over the world in hopes of ending world hunger, and also donated his portion of the proceeds from the Food Network’s 2005 cookbook “Food Network Favorites: Recipes From Our All Star Chefs” to the charity.

Make It Right is a New Orleans-based foundation that focuses on building safe, sustainable homes for families who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. The charity also works with community groups in Newark, Kansas City and other areas to provide energy-efficient, affordable housing for disabled veterans, senior adults and low-income families.

The luncheon will take from noon to 1:15 p.m. at the Meydenbauer Center, 11100 N.E. 6th St. in Bellevue. There is no charge to attend the luncheon, but during the program guests will be asked to make a donation in support of Hopelink’s services.

For more information or to register: www.hope-link.org/luncheon