By Town Crier Staff

Keynote speakers for the ninth annual Community Prayer Breakfast have been announced by the event’s steering committee. They are Kim Oden, volleyball coach at St. Francis High School, and Tom Gutshall, chairman of the board of CityTeam Ministries.

The event is scheduled 7 a.m., April 18, at Hyatt Rickeys in Palo Alto.

Oden, a two-time Olympian and former coach at Stanford University, was twice named NCAA Player of the Year and has been an assistant coach at four Division I colleges. She was hired by St. Francis last year. Her St. Francis high school team won the state championship last year.

Gutshall, a Los Altos Hills resident, is also CEO of Cepheid, developer of anthrax

diagnostic technology.

Gutshall, who has worked in the Bay Area as a chemical engineer for more than 20 years, originally developed his anthrax diagnostic technology, called Smart Cycler, by modifying and improving equipment leased from the Lawrence Livermore laboratories. It was used in detecting anthrax in government offices during the scare following the 9/11 tragedy.

As chairman of CityTeam Ministries, Gutshall oversees a non-profit organization seeking to help the homeless and disadvantaged in cities across the nation.

Hyatt Rickeys ballroom is once again the venue chosen for the Good Friday event that in past years has drawn as many as 580 for the prayer breakfast. Reservations are required.

The cost is $23. Send checks to 290 Avalon, Los Altos 94022. Call 948-5518 for reservations or more information.