Erin Gruwell to Keynote 4th Annual Women Fighting Hunger Event In Davenport
Davenport, IOWA– New York Times bestselling author, educator and activist Erin Gruwell will be they
keynote speaker at this year’s Women Fighting Hunger event, taking place on March 28. Gruwell began
teaching in Long Beach, CA in the mid-90s, helping students “written off” by the system harness the power of
education to graduate high school. Her dedication to her students resulted in the publication of The Freedom
Writers Diary.
The event, hosted at Rhythm City Casino Resort, Davenport, brings together women who are passionate
about River Bend’s mission to work to build hunger-free communities. Also open to men, the evening includes
networking, dinner and a program. Doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner begins at 6:15 p.m., followed by the
program.
In 1999, Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers published their book, The Freedom Writers Diary, which
detailed their unique journey from hardship to hope. The book became a #1 New York Times bestseller and
was adapted into a major motion picture, Freedom Writers, starring two-time Academy Award-winner Hilary
Swank as Erin. The film brought Erin’s work to an even wider audience, and she has since used her platform to
continue her fight for equity and inclusion with her non-profit, the Freedom Writers Foundation.
Erin’s work has been recognized with several humanitarian awards, including the prestigious Spirit of Anne
Frank Award.
Be it in the classroom, or otherwise, Erin’s powerful message of hope and possibility is sure to resonate with
any audience, whom she encourages “to stand up, speak up and speak out.
Tickets for Women Fighting Hunger are $60 a person or $500 for a table of 10. The evening also will include
raffles, a wine pull, and provide information on how to give back to River Bend Food Bank through education,
advocacy, volunteerism or donations. Group and individual tickets may be purchased at
riverbendfoodbank.org/womenfightinghunger. Bottles of wine may also be pre-ordered. All proceeds be used
to purchase food to support River Bend’s Mission of ending hunger in our communities.
Jenny Colvin, River Bend Food Bank’s Chief Development Officer, is excited about the community support.
“We’re excited that people are still loving it as much as we love putting it on,” said Colvin. “It’s always a
memorable evening and one everyone can feel great about.”
Typically, around 500 women (and men) attend the event.
2023 Women Fighting Hunger Sponsors
Gold Sponsors: John Deere, Northwest Bank & Trust, The Stations of Our Quad Cities, Rhythm City Casino &
Resort, Royal Neighbors of America, SSAN, Unity Point Health
Silver Sponsors: Diversified Foods Inc., Eye Surgeons Associates, Green State Credit Union, Hanline Fresh
Foods, Per Mar, Prairie Farms, Quad City Bank & Trust, River Valley Cooperative, Tyson Foods
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About River Bend Food Bank:
No one should go hungry. River Bend Food Bank works with 400+ hunger-relief partners in 23 counties to make
sure children and adults facing hunger have reliable access to healthy food in times of crisis. Leading the
community-wide effort to eliminate hunger in eastern Iowa and western Illinois, the Food Bank distributes
millions of meals each year through food pantries in schools, senior residences, and community organizations.
River Bend Food Bank will feed people today and end hunger tomorrow.
