Tipping Point Benefit Speech

I interviewed Zak Franet for an article I was writing for the Tipping Point Community newsletter. Sensing he’d be a great presenter for our annual benefit, I then utilized the interview to write a speech for him using his own words, which he presented at the Tipping Point Benefit—an event that raised $14 million dollars. I used an abbreviated version of Zak’s story with new photography for Tipping Point’s annual appeal later that year, building on donors’ familiarity with Zak and providing them with an update on his progress as he moved into his first apartment.

Trigger warning: the speech contains references to child abuse and drug addiction.