M28 Ministry, a faith-based nonprofit in Central Pennsylvania dedicated to assisting those in recovery from substance use disorders, will host internationally bestselling author Damon West as the keynote speaker for its annual fundraising banquet.

The event, to be held Oct. 12 at West Shore Country Club, raises money to support M28 projects including a food pantry, life coaching, and House2Home, which provides furnishings and household goods to those in recovery settling into a new home.

West, a former Division I athlete who was incarcerated after becoming addicted to methamphetamines, wrote the book “The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change,” exploring the incredible power within each person to positively change their environments and turn their pot of boiling water (LIFE) into a pot of coffee — just like the coffee bean.

With his inspiring tale of overcoming adversity, West has connected with clients including Walmart, AIG, Chick-fil-A, and Southwest Airlines, as well as sports teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Timberwolves, and numerous college programs. The U.S. Army has even incorporated the #BeACoffeeBean mindset into its resilience training. National and international media have featured West.

“Damon’s incredible story reminds us of the power of God to help us turn our lives around and help others after we have been helped ourselves,” says Jimmy Schambach, Executive Director of M28. “We look forward to hosting him. All proceeds from this year’s gala will go toward supporting people throughout central Pennsylvania who need help finding their way in life. A little encouragement and trust go a long way toward aiding them on their journeys.”

The banquet will feature two other guest speakers in addition to West: Dauphin County Commissioner

George P. Hartwick, III, the onetime mayor of Steelton currently serving his fourth term as a commissioner, and Mrs. Pennsylvania American Susan Ewing-Rathfon, an M28 board member who used her platform at last month’s national Mrs. American pageant to bring awareness to M28’s mission.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction, followed by dinner and the program at 6:30 p.m. The silent auction includes a one-week stay at an Ocean City beach house and a $500 gift card to Handy Side for home renovations as well as a range of sports memorabilia donated by M28 supporters, including:

• Tickets and a parking pass to the Nov. 18 Penn State-Rutgers game at Beaver Stadium
• 10 framed and signed Penn State football pictures
• Signed baseballs from Hall of Fame pitchers Greg Maddux and Pedro Martinez
• Signed baseball from World Series-winning manager Bobby Cox
• Signed bats from retired Phillies Golden Glove catcher Mike Lieberthal

Sponsorships for the October event are still available. For tickets and more information, please visit our event page.