30 April 2013

The Salvation Army Northwest Division welcomes Seattle Seahawks Wide Receiver Doug Baldwin as keynote speaker at its annual Soupline fundraiser luncheon. The event, set for Thursday, May 2, at the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Seattle, will raise funds to help the hungry, homeless and hopeless in King County.

Doug Baldwin graduated from Stanford University and joined the Seattle Seahawks in 2011 as a rookie free agent. Originally from Gulf Breeze, Florida, he participated in Salvation Army programs as a kid. During the keynote speech, Mr. Baldwin will share his story about how The Salvation Army impacted his life and career.

In addition to the keynote speech by Mr. Baldwin, the Soupline program will include an update on the work of The Salvation Army throughout the county, and a heart-warming story of a life changed by The Army. Plus, the event will feature the much-anticipated announcement of this year's recipients of The Salvation Army Arthur S. Langlie Award for Visionary Leadership and The Others Award. Mark Wright, Morning Anchor at KING-TV, will emcee the event.

The term "Soupline" originated during the Great Depression, when lines of hungry people waited outside of Salvation Army kitchens for a bowl of hot soup. Throughout the country's most desolate times, The Salvation Army has often provided the daily source of nutrition for the masses. Today, it reminds us of our humble service to others.

Soupline is expected to earn at least $300,000, which will help support Salvation Army programs in King County - including after-school homework centers and youth athletic leagues, rent/utility assistance, homeless shelters, disaster relief services, summer camps for kids, shelters for battered women and children, and substance abuse rehabilitation, and more.

Soupline 2013 is made possible by generous sponsors. Title sponsors are the John N. Gehlen Memorial Foundation and Fred Meyer Fund; Platinum sponsor is the Boeschoten Foundations; Gold sponsor is American Pacific Mortgage. Silver sponsors are Alison S. Andrews; Bartell Drugs; Carney, Badley, Spellman; Darrell Davis; Grizzard; Tatley-Grund; and Univeristy Mechanical Contractors, Inc. Numerous Bronze sponsors have also joined to support the event.

Individual invitations to the event are still available. There is no charge for attending the event, but guests are expected to make a minimum donation of $150 to The Salvation Army. Information about sponsorship levels and individual tickets are available at www.SalvationArmyNW.org.