The Renton-based King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC) brought in more than $40,000 during its annual Renton Kids Are Our Business Breakfast at the Spirit of Washington Event Center Wednesday morning.

About 250 people attended the early-morning event.

KSARC Executive Director Mary Ellen Stone said the breakfast drew record attendance.

“We are thrilled,” she said. “This is such a wonderful indicator of the level of support from the Renton people. They were very generous.”

Donations from Wednesday’s breakfast are still coming in. Even so, Stone said the last five breakfasts have raised almost $200,000. That money allows the center to provide free services to victims of sexual assault in King County. Stone says these services encourage victims to come forward and talk about their abuse, which helps decrease sexual abuse.

“We know sexual abuse is going down, in part because we’re seeing people more willing to talk about it,” Stone said.

Wednesday’s breakfast was emceed by KOMO-TV reporter Keith Eldridge.

A KCSARC client also spoke at the fundraiser, as did Kirby Unti, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church pastor and 2007 Citizen of the Year.