Lauren Bush Lauren to Serve as Keynote Speaker at 2012 Women of Vision Luncheon

FARMINGTON, HILLS, MI, September 13, 2012 (Press-News.org) The National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Detroit Section (NCJW/Greater Detroit) will welcome Lauren Bush Lauren as its keynote speaker at the organization's annual benefit. The Women of Vision luncheon will be held Thursday, October 4 at Temple Beth El (7400 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills 48301).

With a focus on "Philanthropy in the 21st Century," she will explore her shift from her career as a top model to a philanthropist. Lauren is the chief FEEDer and co-founder of FEED Projects (www.feedprojects.com) and chairman of the board and co-founder of The FEED Foundation.

In 2005, Lauren had the initial inspiration to design the FEED 1 bag to help fight the hunger and poverty she saw first-hand while serving as an honorary spokesperson for the World Food Program (WFP) the year before. Each bag, which provides a way for consumers to give back in a tangible and meaningful way, feeds one child in school for one year through WFP.

FEED Projects LLC, which was established in 2007 to sell FEED bags, is a charitable company with the mission to create and sell products that help feed the world. The following year, the FEED Foundation was founded. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, it supports programs and organizations that are effectively working to fight hunger and eliminate malnutrition throughout the world.

FEED Projects has partnered with various companies and, through the sale of eco-friendly products, has raised more than $6 million for the WFP's school feeding program, which equates to nearly 60 million meals to school children to date.

Born in Denver, Lauren grew up in Houston and started her career as a fashion model, appearing on the cover of publications such as Vogue Australia, Glamour and Town and Country. For her work with FEED, she was selected as a 2009 Fortune Most Powerful Women Entrepreneur, included on 2010 Inc's 30 Under 30 list, and received the 2010 Accessories Council Humanitarian Award, the 2011 Stevie Award for Best Non-Profit Executive and the 2011 Fashion Group International Humanitarian Award.

The 2006 Princeton University graduate is the niece of former President George W. Bush and granddaughter of former President George H.W. Bush. She recently married David Lauren, the son of fashion designer Ralph Lauren.

"Lauren Bush Lauren has accomplished so much at her age, and all for wonderful causes," said Suzanne Lasser, co-chair of Women of Vision. "She is truly an inspiration for the younger generations to help better the world they are growing up in."

The funds raised from the event will benefit the organization's many community service programs, which each year include providing backpacks with new school supplies to homeless students, donating blankets to children removed from their homes by Protective Services, operating a single family domestic abuse shelter, providing grants and interest-free loans to college students and packing and delivering thousands of Meals on Wheels.

In addition to Lauren's remarks, Women of Vision will honor Gilda Jacobs, the president and CEO of the Michigan League for Human Services; the Cancer Thriver's Network for Jewish Women co-founders Michelle Passon, Sandy Schwartz and Patti Nemer; and the late Marsha Zucker, NCJW/Greater Detroit community volunteer and activist, with the Josephine S. Weiner Community Service Award. The Award honors an individual or organization in the greater Detroit metropolitan area whose work benefits the community, serves as an inspiration to others, and reflects the mission statement of the organization.

Registration and boutiques open at 9:30 a.m. The program will commence at 11:00 a.m., followed by lunch at 12:30 p.m. The boutiques close at 3:30 p.m.

Tickets for the keynote speaker and lunch are $100. For speaker only tickets, the cost is $45 and will be held at the door. Student tickets start at $20 and also will be held at the door. To register, please call (248) 355-3300, ext 0 or visit http://www.ncjwgds.org. The deadline to RSVP for the luncheon is Friday, September 28.

Sponsors for Women of Vision include: Bank of America, Maddin Hauser Wartell Roth & Heller, P.C., Hermelin Foundation, Schecter Wealth Strategies, Woll and Woll, Feinberg Consulting, Judy Rosenberg, Irma Glaser, Lis Foundation, Morris Phillips Foundation, Bobbi Patt, Marilyn Soble and Suzanne Lasser.

For more information on the event, tickets and the NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN, GREATER DETROIT SECTION, call (248) 355-3300, ext. 0, or visit http://www.ncjwgds.org.