Grant County Community Foundation
"Top Secret: Covert Event with Overt Intent"
Friday, April 29, 2022, 6 pm

When Valerie Plame moved to Silver City several years ago, one of the town's attributes she most appreciated was the its strong sense of community, friendliness and care for others. As Valerie became immersed in the local scene and met many local residents through her husband, Joe Shepard, president of Western New Mexico University, she knew she wanted to give something back to her new hometown.

What most don't realize about Valerie upon first meeting her is that she has an intriguing, even historic, personal background: she is a former covert CIA officer. In 2003, senior White House officials leaked her name to a news columnist in retaliation for her late husband, Ambassador Joe Wilson, writing an OpEd in The New York Times in which he questioned the rationale used by the Administration to go to war with Iraq, and thus began the "Plame Affair." Today, Valerie shares her experiences in her current work as an American writer, spy novelist and public speaker.

Valerie will be telling her story at an upcoming Grant County Community Foundation fundraiser, titled a Top Secret: Covert Event with Overt Intent. Valerie is active on the board of directors for the Community Foundation, which originated in 2012, and is passionate about its work, which is dedicated to a shared and vibrant southwest New Mexico community through its many projects, area nonprofits and the philanthropic passion of its residents.

"I really want to see the Community Foundation and its work grow even further to benefit our community," Valerie said, "and I'm hoping folks will attend this exciting event in support of our work. It is through collaborative efforts within Silver City and our surrounding communities that the Community Foundation can support local nonprofit and charitable organizations."

Attendees at the April 29 dinner event at Bear Mountain Lodge will not only hear Valerie speak but will enjoy wine, dinner and dessert, as well as an intriguing silent "covert" auction.

Interesting in attending? Contact Bernadette Smyth at 575.956.6095 or email grantcountycommunityfoundation@gmail.com for more details.