Peter Casey, executive director of Peninsula Community Mental Health Center, announced that the center’s board of directors hosts a special event on May 13, dubbed “Inspiring Hope/Supporting Change.”

Board directors said they hope to raise both awareness of mental health issues and funds to support the center’s work.

The featured speaker will be Academy Award-winning actress Patty Duke, a well-known supporter of mental health causes. She will deliver a talk titled “A Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depression.”

Peninsula Community Mental Health Center has provided mental health services to Clallam County since 1971.

“People come to us feeling hopeless or in crisis,” Casey said. “We work with them to feel empowered, to be proactive and to see solutions and opportunities.”

A United Way agency, the center helps reduce pressure on other community resources such as the hospital emergency room, jail and police and sheriff departments.

“We hope the community will continue to support us in this vital work,” board president Deb Reed said.

A VIP reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Crabhouse Restaurant, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and Duke’s presentation at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $100 each and will be sold at Port Book and News in Port Angeles and The Buzz in Sequim. Tables of 10 are available for $1,000.

For ticket and reservation information, call 457-0431.