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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Years ago there was a television commercial for the brokerage firm E.F. Hutton that went: &#8220;When E.F. Hutton speaks, people listen.&#8221;</p><p>It was an effective ad campaign of the past. Here in 2015, the United Way of Wyoming Valley is hosting an event with a speaker who people should come to see and, most importantly, listen to.</p><p>Known from the TV movie, &#8220;From Homeless to Harvard,&#8221; which chronicled Liz Murray&#8217;s life, is a living example of how to overcome adversity.</p><p>Murray will be the featured speaker Sept. 2 at the United Way&#8217;s &#8220;Poverty to Possibility: Building the Movement&#8221; Kickoff Celebration for the 2015 United Way Campaign, at the Keystone Ballroom, Mohegan Sun Pocono. The two-hour event starts at 5:30 p.m.</p><p>The event marks the second year of United Way of Wyoming Valley&#8217;s Poverty to Possibility movement, aimed at developing long-term solutions to reducing childhood poverty in the region. Nearly one third of all children in Luzerne County live below the poverty level.</p><p>According to a news release from the United Way, Murray&#8217;s story is that of &#8220;an unlikely turn of events. Liz Murray&#8217;s life is a triumph over adversity and a stunning example of the importance of dreaming big. Murray&#8217;s life as the child of cocaine-addicted parents in the Bronx was bitterly grim. There was never food in the house, everything was filthy, drugs were everywhere and the welfare checks were spent before they arrived.&#8221;</p><p>According to information on Murray&#8217;s website, by age 15, her mom had died and she was homeless &#8212; living on the streets, riding the subway all night and eating from dumpsters. Facing this pain, Murray, now 34, always imagined her life could be much better than it was.</p><p>&#8220;I started to grasp the value of the lessons learned while living on the streets,&#8221; Murray is quoted in the news release. &#8220;I knew after overcoming those daily obstacles that next to nothing could hold me down.&#8221;</p><p>The release says Murray was determined to take charge of her life She finished high school in just two years while camping out in New York City parks and subway stations.</p><p>Lifetime Television produced a movie about Murray&#8217;s life story entitled &#8220;From Homeless to Harvard,&#8221; which premiered in April 2003.</p><p>Murray received her bachelor&#8217;s in psychology from Harvard University in June 2009.</p><p>Bill Jones, President/CEO of United Way of Wyoming Valley, said support over the last year for the agency&#8217;s focus on reducing childhood poverty has been overwhelming, and he seeks to keep that momentum growing.</p><p>Jones said local and national studies have shown that the poverty level in a community influences academic achievement, workforce readiness, economic development, crime and safety, government spending, health and healthcare costs and many other issues.</p><p>Jones said Murray&#8217;s presentation will highlight the kickoff program. He said Murray&#8217;s determination at a young age to take charge of her life and complete her education was documented in her New York Times bestselling book, &#8220;Breaking Night,&#8221; as well as in the movie.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;We know that when people hear her powerful story, they&#8217;ll want to join our movement aimed at helping children in poverty overcome their struggles and achieve better lives,&#8221; he said.</p><p>The program will be a part of the kickoff reception, which will include food, beverages, and musical entertainment by &#8220;Big Daddy Dex.&#8221; Tickets for the event are $25. For more information and to make a reservation, call United Way at 570-829-6711 ext. 231, or e-mail mphostarr@unitedwaywb.org.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Murray </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Liz-Murray.jpg</photo0><caption0>Murray </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

From homeless to Harvard to Wyoming Valley keynote guest, Liz Murray to attend United Way kickoff