Bestselling author Mortenson to speak at Marblehead Veterans Middle School in Feb.

MARBLEHEAD-The Church of St. Andrew (Episcopal) in Marblehead will welcome GregMortenson, author of the New York Times bestselling book “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time” will speak at the Marblehead Veterans Middle School, 217 Pleasant St. on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. He will sign copies of his book, which will be available for sale, after the lecture.”Three Cups of Tea,” the story of Mortenson’s quest to build schools in the remote tribal regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan, has been a New York Times bestseller for over 40 weeks and was Time Magazine’s Asia Book of the Year. The book describes Mortenson’s 12-year, grass-roots effort to build more than 55 schools, many for girls.”St Andrew’s is a church that lives beyond its own circle of concern,” said the Reverend Mary Scott Wagner, Rector of St. Andrews. “Global outreach is a significant part of our mission and Greg’s story is an inspiring way for us all to see how one person can make a dramatic difference in the lives of others.”In addition, Mortenson’s work is aligned with the Episcopal Church’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals of fighting poverty, eradicating hunger, and achieving universal primary education for children.”People of faith are committed to people in need, and we believe the wealthiest countries in the world have a responsibility to the most impoverished countries to end extreme poverty,” Wagner said.Wagner added that Mortenson and the regional leaders who supported his school building believe not only that education will help eliminate poverty, but also that it is the only sure way to promote peace.Mortenson will be introduced by Kimberly Trudel, who first met him in the spring of 2002 when she sought his help in bringing her late husband’s textbooks to the medical school at the University of Kabul. Trudel’s late husband, Fred Rimmele, died on 9/11 when United Flight 175 hit the World Trade Center. Trudel has since become an activist for the use of education to promote tolerance and understanding in the world.”It is my hope that Greg’s tireless dedication to building schools will alleviate the extreme desperation that arises from the lack of education and economic opportunity,” she said.Tickets for the event are $15 and can be purchased at Spirit of ’76Bookstore at 107 Pleasant St.; Arnould Gallery and Framery at 111 Washington St.and Cornerstone Books, 45 Lafayette Street in Salem. Proceeds will benefit Mortenson’s Central Asia Institute and the mission and ministry of St. Andrew’s.Those who feel inspired by Mortenson’s story are invited to sponsor the event. Sponsorships are available at the $100, $250, and $500 levels. Proceeds from the event go toward a community-wide effort to raise the funds to build a school and to St. Andrew’s outreach efforts. All sponsors will be acknowledged in the program and will have a unique opportunity to meet Mortenson at a reception and tea prior to the speaking engagement. The reception will be held in the Parish Hall at the Church of St. Andrew, 135 Lafayette Street at 6 p.m.For more information about the event and about sponsorships, visit St. Andrew’s Web site, www.standrewsmhd.org. Learn more about the book atwww.threecupsoftea.com and about Greg Mortenson’s nonprofit Central Asia Institute at www.ikat.org.