University MLK event nearly sold out

Next week's Martin Luther King Jr. celebration dinner featuring a homeless man-turned-millionaire whose story was made famous in the film "The Pursuit of Happyness" is nearly sold out.

Lincoln Scott, assistant to the president for equity and diversity issues at Southeast Missouri State University, said nearly 1,150 tickets have been sold, with a handful of tickets available as of Thursday afternoon. Tickets for Wednesday's event went on sale last fall to sponsors, who purchased the majority of the 146 tables.

Scott said the event normally sells out each year.

"This year we particularly did well because we have someone that was part of a movie that was made after him," Scott said. "People are becoming more aware and in tune with the dream of Martin Luther King Jr."

Scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Show Me Center, the dinner will feature Christopher Gardner, whose memoir "The Pursuit of Happyness," was made into a movie in 2006. Gardner was homeless while raising a son in the 1980s before becoming a self-made millionaire.

Any available individual tickets may be purchased by calling the Show Me Center box office at 651-2297.