The 2017 Carry the Torch luncheon, hosted by the Volunteer Ministry Center, will begin at 11:45 a.m. The luncheon is part of a Mission Fair beginning at 10 a.m. with agencies that serve the homeless presenting booths and information and interacting with attendees seeking volunteer opportunities. The featured speaker will be Jesuit Father Gregory J. Boyle, author of “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, a New York Times bestseller. Boyle is the founder and executive director of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, California, the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. The honorary chair for the event is Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch.

A limited number of individual tickets are available before the event for $100 each. Tables also will be available and sponsorships. Contact the Volunteer Ministry Center at 865-524-3926 for more information.