Thursday, May 22, 2003

Wilmington -- North Carolina author Lee Smith will be the featured speaker at the Girls Inc. annual fund-raising luncheon at noon, Tuesday, June 3, in the Warwick Center Ballroom.

Smith’s latest novel is “The Last Girls,” which tells the story of how college friends who grew up in an era when they were still called "girls” have negotiated life as “women.” She is a retired professor of English at N.C. State University and resides in Hillsborough. After the luncheon, Smith will be available for a book signing in the Warwick Center lobby. Two Sisters Bookery will be selling copies of Smith’s books and donating the proceeds to Girls Inc.

Tickets for the luncheon are $50 a person. A table of eight can be purchased for $400. Some seats are still available. For more information, please contact Melissa Ramsay at 763-6674.

Girls Inc. of Wilmington has been in operation sine 1951. Its mission is to inspire all girls “to be strong, smart and bold.” The program is currently serving more than 60 girls a day, helping girls build their skills and interest in science, math and technology. Girls Inc. also does award-winning work in programs to prevent adolescent pregnancy, under the direction of Delores Wallace.

NOTE TO MEDIA: We would appreciate any advance coverage you can give of this event as well as your being present that day. If you wish to eat lunch, please RSVP to Mimi Cunningham, 962-3171 by voice or e-mail. You can reach Ms. Wallace at 763-6674 or Girls Inc. Executive Director Mike Thompson at that same number.