A group of fashion-forward women got “Carried Away” at a private screening of Sex & the City: The Movie on opening day, part of a breakfast benefit for Hopelink. Lincoln Square Cinemas buzzed with excitement as 240 people, most of them women, gathered to spend the morning with four of their closet friends: Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda.

The theater’s lobby was filled with high heels and anticipation as the women chatted over a light breakfast and coffee prior to the screening. The morning event was a chance to play hooky, have fun and give back to a good cause.

The event benefited Hopelink, a community action agency that has been helping people and changing lives for 35 years. A total ofr $25,840 was raised to help Hopelink’s more than 40 services, including food banks, emergency financial security, emergency shelter, employment assistance and more. The breakfast and private screening event began with a brief video clip featuring local individuals who had their lives personally touched and changed by Hopelink’s services.

The event brought together a theater full of women to raise awareness and funds for the organization that helped feed 3,000 households this past month, many of whom were children. Linda Benson, the director of development for Hopelink, emphasized the important role that the organization plays in many families lives during the summer months, explaining that kids often bear the most burden. According to Benson, summertime means no school and that equates to 11,000 children losing their free or reduced lunches and parents facing the financial stress of hiring child care while they work to support the family.

Hopelink is funded by private foundations, United Way, government support and donations made from individuals in the community. The organization’s continued progress is thanks to the support that comes from nearly 12,000 volunteers who offer their time and effort to give back to the community.

One of those volunteers stepped up in a big way, spearheading the Breakfast with the Girls for Hopelink event. With an eye for fashion and a heart for giving, Hopelink volunteer Heija Nunn orchestrated the breakfast and movie event by securing a location, gathering sponsors and getting the word out.

While watching an episode of Oprah with featured guest Sarah Jessica Parker, Nunn was inspired to host an event to raise money for Hopelink and knew that the highly anticipated Sex & the City: The Movie was just the ticket.

“Thanks to the great response from the community, Hopelink will be able to make even more of a positive impact for families and individuals in need this summer,” said Nunn, who was thrilled with the positive response she received from those who attended the event.

Helping to make the entire morning possible, several local businesses helped sponsor the event. The newly opened Palominos restaurant, located on the first level of Lincoln Square, was a feature sponsor along with Alki Bakery, Tully’s Coffee and Nordstrom. Making it possible to watch “Mr. Big” on the big screen, Lincoln Square Cinemas donated an entire theater for the private screening. The event was free, but encouraged a donation to Hopelink that would contribute to continued services provided to the community.

Lindsay Larin can be reached at llarin@reporternewspapers.com or 425-453-4602.