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Introduction

The Board, staff and supporters of Washington Policy Center (WPC) were excited to host U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos at its 2017 Annual Dinner.  Over 1,400 people attended, including over 300 WPC young professionals and college students.

The event was sold out and raised more than $1 million in support of WPC’s mission to expand family choice in education and to promote other effective reforms that improve the lives of all people in our state.

The event attracted unprecedented media coverage.  Secretary DeVos’ well-reasoned and eloquent appeal in support of school choice was widely reported on TV news, radio, print, online, and on social media.  Every major news media outlet in the region sent representatives to cover the event.

Secretary DeVos’ speech was enthusiastically received by dinner attendees and her speech was interrupted several times by applause.  The audience was particularly affected by her touching portrayals of students whose lives have been uplifted by school choices programs.

Following is the full text of her remarks.

 Download the full Policy Brief.