On the heels of sold-out success at its ESTEEM Fashion Show on September 21, The Elisa Project announces a seven-time Olympic medalist as keynote speaker for the upcoming 9th Annual Life Lessons Luncheon in 2014.  

Read: Celebs & A Sold-Out Crowd Rally For The Elisa Project’s ESTEEM 2013

  Dedicated to the prevention and treatment of eating disorders through support, education, and advocacy, Dallas-based nonprofit The Elisa Project raises mission-critical funds through its yearly Life Lessons Luncheon. Featuring a different high-profile speaker each year, past Life Lessons headliners have included supermodel and philanthropist Petra Nemcova and television star Carson Kressley. Joining the accomplished group in 2014 is athlete, author, mother, and blogger Amanda Beard (pictured below).     After entering the field of competitive swimming at the very young age of 14, Beard rose to fame as a four-time Olympian, seven-time Olympic medalist, and two-time Pan-Pacific gold medalist. In 2012, she authored her New York Times best-selling memoir, In The Water They Can’t See You Cry. Within, Beard explores the hidden struggles she endured with bulimia and drug abuse throughout her career, as well as her journey to achieve the healthy, fulfilling life she enjoys today. In her honor, the 2014 Life Lessons Luncheon theme will be “Waves of Change.”   The Elisa Project’s 9th Annual Life Lessons Luncheon will take place on Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas. For more information, visit TheElisaProject.org or email [email protected].     Amanda Beard portrait via OutsideOnline.com.