This year the Women’s Center of San Joaquin County will be hosting its 30th Annual Luncheon on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at the Stockton Arena from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Women’s Center is excited to be partnering with the Stockton Arena and the Stockton Thunder Hockey Team this year to present its signature event in a fantastic new venue.

As part of this partnership, the Stockton Thunder will offer discounted tickets to the March 31 home season finale to sponsors and attendees of the luncheon. Special $100 ticket packages (including 10 Upper Premium level tickets to the game) are on sale, with 50 percent of the proceeds benefiting the Women's Center of San Joaquin County. For ticket packages, please contact the Women’s Center at (209) 941-2611.

Individual tickets are also available for $10 each (Upper Premium level) with $4 from each ticket going to the Women's Center. For individual tickets, please call the Thunder at (209) 373-1507 and mention the Women’s Center.

Serving as keynote speaker for the luncheon will be Michael Pritchard, a nationally acclaimed speaker known for his ability to use humor to inspire and educate his audiences. Michael's background as a stand-up comic, juvenile counselor, actor, and probation officer gives him a unique perspective and range of abilities. Michael has performed with comedy greats such as Robin Williams and Jerry Seinfeld, and has been featured on CNN, NBC's "The Today Show", "The Tonight Show", and in "Time" magazine and "People" magazine.

The Women's Center's luncheon has become a premier event in our community; each year more than 600 guests attend this event. The funds raised from the luncheon help support no-cost services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The luncheon also serves as an opportunity for the community to gather in unity against domestic violence and sexual assault. We hope that the luncheon will raise awareness, challenge misperceptions about abuse in our community, and offer hope and strength to survivors.

Doors for the event open at 11:00 a.m. and the program will start promptly at 11:30 a.m. Individual lunches are $35.00 and can be purchased by calling the Women's Center at (209) 941-2611. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information please visit www.womenscentersjc.org or contact the Women’s Center’s Development Department at (209) 941-2611.

The mission of the Women’s Center of San Joaquin County is to provide a wide range of supportive, educational, and crisis intervention services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, enabling them to regain control of their lives. For 34 years, the Women’s Center has been serving the communities of San Joaquin County. Last year alone more than 30,000 individuals benefited from our services.