Good News - January 2019

OUT AND ABOUT 32 JANUARY 2019 Good News • South Florida Edition HOPE South Florida hosted its Annual HOPE for the Holidays Gala on Novem- ber 30 at the newly renovated Bahia Mar on A1A in Fort Lauderdale raising $170,000. Proceeds will benefit home- less families and veterans providing meals, housing, mo- bile showers, employment as- sistance and other critical services. Among the evening fes- tivities, there were live and silent auctions, raffles, DJ, dancing and a champagne toast. The evening of beautiful décor, elegance and purpose to help end homelessness in Broward County was emceed by local favorite Calvin Hughes, WPLG Channel 10 Anchor with nearly 400 guests in attendance including Kath- leen Canon, CEO, United Way of Broward County, Commissioner Heather Moraitis, City of Fort Laud- erdale, George Moraitis, For- mer Florida House of Representatives, Commis- sioner Julie Fishman, City of Tamarac, Brigadier General Edward Merrigan, II of the United SatesArmy, and Major General G.W Stephen Read (Retired). “With this amazing sup- port tonight from our donors, sponsors, partners and volun- teers, we are increasingly poised and prepared to lead with local government, United Way, the private sector and faith partners to make a signif- icant dent in ending home- lessness in Broward County” said Dr. Ted Greer, Jr., CEO of HOPE South Florida. “I am tremendously humbled by this amazing turnout, the generos- ity of our friends, donors and sponsors. We want to help bring awareness, give HOPE South Florida our time, talents and the resources to advance their mission” said Jennifer Stepelton, Gala Committee Chair. HOPE South Florida’s 2017 accomplishments in- cluded securing close to 80 local churches to join forces with their mission, provided emergency housing (150 households), Shared Meals (80,000 hot meals), Mobile Showers (700), Rapid Re- Housing for families & veter- ans transitioning from the street into their own apart- ments (209 households) and support teams for families (mentoring) for 24 families. Much of HOPE South Florida’s growing success is largely due to committed hands-on volunteerism and fi- nancial support from core faith partners including Christ Church United Methodist, First Presbyterian of Fort Lauderdale, Rio Vista Com- munity Church, Cross Com- munity Church, Coral Ridge Presbyterian, First United Methodist Church, Christian Life Center and Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. Spe- cial thanks to dedicated lead sponsors Stacy Foundation, Holy Cross Hospital and Hol- man Automotive. For more details, visit hope- southflorida.org. HOPE South Florida raises $170,000 to Benefit Homeless Families & Veterans From left to right: Gino Ingenito, Eileen Schneider, Cheryl Boxall, Steven Sims, and Arlene Munir