WINONA LAKE — Tickets for the “An Evening with Elizabeth Smart” in Winona Lake are now available on Eventbrite. There is no charge for tickets, but a ticket is needed for entry to the event, as seating is limited.

The event will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center, Winona Lake. Three local non-profit organizations — Joe’s Kids, The Baker Youth Club and Court Appointed Special Advocate of Kosciusko County — are hosting the event. The Kosciusko County Community Foundation and K21 Health Foundation are funding the event.

Through the Eventbrite link, attendees also have the option to purchase Elizabeth Smart’s book, “Where There’s Hope,” for $20. Attendees can choose to purchase the book pre-signed or get it signed by Smart at the event. Books will be picked up at the presentation.

The abduction of Smart was one of the most followed child abduction cases in memory. Smart was abducted on June 5, 2002, and her captors controlled her by threatening to kill her and her family if she tried to escape. Fortunately, the police safely returned her back to her family on March 12, 2003, after being held prisoner for nine months.

Through this traumatic experience, Smart has become an advocate for change related to child abduction, recovery programs and national legislation. Smart triumphantly testified before her captor and the world about the very private nightmare she suffered during her abduction, which led to a conviction.

The founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, Smart has also helped promote The National AMBER Alert, The Adam Walsh Child Protection & Safety Act and other safety legislation to help prevent abductions.