WHO:
-  U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13th), Co-Chair and Co-Founder, Congressional Caucus on Homelessness
-  Mark Shriver, Save the Children
-  Barbara Duffield, National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
-  Susan J. Blumenthal, M.D., Former Assistant U.S. Surgeon General; Board of Trustees, Save the Children
-  Barbara Poppe, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
-  Nan Roman, National Alliance to End Homelessness 

WHAT:
Congresswoman Biggert will deliver opening remarks and a brief legislative update at the premier screening of HBO’s new documentary, Homeless: The Motel Kids of Orange County.  Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion featuring homeless advocates from around the country. 

WHEN:
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
6:30 pm Eastern: Reception
7:30 pm Eastern: Opening Remarks and Screening 

WHERE:
National Press Club
529 14th St, NW
Washington, DC 

WHY:
As the recession deepened over the previous two years, America’s public school system has experienced a 41 percent increase in the number of homeless students – totaling over 956,000 homeless children.  Raising awareness of this troubling trend, HBO will host a premier screening in Washington of Alexandra Pelosi’s new documentary Homeless: The Motel Kids of Orange County, which chronicles a summer in the lives of homeless children who live in low-rent motels and attend a school for homeless youth in California.  Biggert, who co-chairs both the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness and the Congressional Caucus on Missing and Exploited Youth, will deliver opening remarks before the film and provide audience members with information about her legislation aimed at helping homeless kids overcome the hurdles that keep them from getting the education they need to escape poverty. 

For more information, please contact Zachary Cikanek at (202) 225-3515.

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