Mendham High Grad And Humanitarian Doyne Speaks At MHS Wednesday

MENDHAM TOWNSHIP, NJ — A gap year backpacking trip turned into humanitarian aid projects recognized around the world for one Mendham High School graduate, and she's telling her story around New Jersey this week and next.

The internationally recognized humanitarian will be in Mendham Wednesday. She is also holding a virtual event Monday night at 8 p.m.

Maggie Doyne is co-founder and CEO of the BlinkNow Foundation. She has authored a book and will share her story of helping poor children and women in Nepal at upcoming local New Jersey events between now and March 31.

Doyne's work has been globally recognized — both her community-based work and sustainable initiatives. She received the 2008 CosmoGirl of the Year Award, the 2013 Forbes Excellence in Education Award, and the 2015 CNN Hero of the Year award.

She'll be in person at Mendham High School, 65 East Main St., on March 23 at 7 p.m., a news release said. Registration is required. Books will be available for purchase.

Doyne graduated from Mendham High School and took a gap year to backpack around the world. She found herself in Nepal, where she met a poor girl crushing stones in a riverbed. She used her babysitting money to send the little girl and several others like her to school but wanted to do more.

So, she co-founded the nonprofit BlinkNow and went on to build a school, an orphanage, a health clinic, and a women's center in the Kopila Valley. Doyne has dedicated the last 17 years of her life to helping others.

Doyne's new book "Between the Mountain and the Sky: A Mother’s Story of Hope and Love" will be released on March 22 by HarperCollins and is available for sale at local bookstores.

Doyne will read excerpts from her book and share about the writing process as well as share her story of making a difference in the lives of hundreds of children and women in Nepal at these upcoming events:

• March 23, 2022: 7 p.m. In-person event at Mendham High School, 65 East Main St., Mendham. Registration is required. Books will be available for purchase.
• March 25, 2022: 7:30 pm In-person event at Holy Trinity Church, 315 First St., Westfield, NJ. Registration is not required. Books will be available for purchase.
• March 27, 2022: 11:15 a.m. In-person event at First Baptist Church, 19 W. Main St., Moorestown. Registration is not required. Books will be available for purchase.
• March 29, 2022: 6:30 p.m. In-person event at Heartworks House, in conversation with Megan MacDowell, 19 Morristown Road, Basking Ridge. Registration is required. Books will be available for purchase.
• March 30, 2022: 5 p.m. In-person event at The Co-Co, 426 Springfield Ave., Summit. Registration is required. Books will be available for purchase. (SOLD OUT)
• March 31, 2022: 7 p.m. In-person event at Chatham High School, 255 Lafayette Ave., Chatham. Registration is not required. Books will be available for purchase. More information here.

Doyne will be available to sign her book at all these events. Her book can be preordered here through Watchung Booksellers.

These virtual events are also coming up for those unable to attend an in-person event.

• March 21, 2022: 8 p.m. EDT. Virtual Pre-Order Launch Party with Maggie. Did you pre-order Maggie's book? Then join BlinkNow as we celebrate the release with a special night of conversation with Maggie on the eve of her book release! Registration is required.
• March 22, 2022: 7 p.m. EDT. Virtual event hosted by renowned author Liz Gilbert. Registration is required.
• March 29, 2022: 4 p.m. EDT. Virtual event, Maggie Doyne in conversation with Luke Metcalf, former BlinkNow Construction Project Manager, hosted by Norman Williams Public Library. Registration is required. Books are available from The Yankee Bookshop.

For more information about the BlinkNow Foundation, please visit the foundation's website.

The Kopila Valley School and Home are supported by the BlinkNow Foundation, whose mission is to change the world by empowering Nepal's youth. BlinkNow works towards a day where every child is safe, educated and loved. The organization does this by providing quality education and a loving, caring home for orphaned and at-risk children in Surkhet, Nepal, a news statement explained.

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