Former President George W. Bush Will Speak In Des Moines Oct. 14

DES MOINES, IA. -- Former President George W. Bush will visit Des Moines Oct. 14 in support of a nonprofit Christian group that raises money for church and community center facilities in developing countries worldwide. The event is hosted by Trailhead International Builders and will be held at the Iowa Events Center's Hy-Vee Hall.

The group's building projects have included churches, kids' feeding centers and adult trade-skills centers, along with youth sports centers that provide a safe and healthy environment for young people to play and learn while instilling character and integrity utilizing biblical principles, the organization said.

The organization recently implemented a central Iowa scholarship to enable at-risk students to participate in sports, music drama and other extracurricular activities.

(For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Des Moines Patch, and click here to find your local Iowa Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The first 50 active and veteran members of the military and their guests who order tickets in advance will be admitted free. Seat pricing levels are $100, $200, $500, $1,000 and $2,500. Table prices range from $2,000 to $25,000.

President Bush has been involved with numerous humanitarian efforts since leaving office in January 2009. He and his wife, Laura, traveled to Gaborone, Botswana and Namibia in April to demonstrate their commitment to the people of Africa through the work of the George W. Bush Institute's global leadership programs.

Trailhead International Builders donates 100 percent of its contributions directly to mission projects. All administrative and operational expenses incurred by the organization are independently funded by Daniel and Rachael Pettit, the organization's presidents, and from events.

The group said its recent funding projects include new church facilities in Pochocuape, Nicaragua; Rama Blanca, Guatemala; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Bomani, Kenya; Pampanga, Philippines; and Tro Keat, Cambodia; and sports center programs in Sandino, Nicaragua; Reya, Ukraine; Manila, Philippines; Alajuela, Costa Rica.

"We are tremendously honored that President Bush has chosen to help us with our mission to improve the lives of people around the world who struggle in grinding poverty and seek to lift up their lives and, especially, the lives of their children," the Pettits said in a news release. "His compassion for people in need is an inspiration to millions of people. We could not imagine a more appropriate leader to highlight our mission and work."

Doors will open at 5 p.m. for the event, which starts at 6 p.m. Two other events -- including an Iowa Wild hockey game -- will be at the Iowa Events Center that night and organizers caution those attending the event with the former president to plan accordingly for vehicle and pedestrian traffic, as well as to allow time for the check-in process.

Photo courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum