Press releases

House of Hope shines
during Silver Celebration

PRESS RELEASE DATE: JAN. 5, 2009

House of Hope is marking its 25^th anniversary this year, and is planning a series of events that make up a “Silver Celebration” for 2009.

Among the main events:

• House of Hope’s 10th Annual Fashion Show, Luncheon and Silent Auction will be held Thursday, March 5, at Mariner Sands Country Club. This event will combine fun and philanthropy while spotlighting the latest fashions courtesy of donors to House of Hope’s “Resale Shoppes” (thrift stores, that is).

• On Friday, March 13, House of Hope will host a Silver Celebration event at its Stuart location (the corner of Dixie Highway and Bonita Street). Founders and key leaders will be honored, and the agency will present its vision for the years to come.

• On Friday, April 17, the agency will hold its 14^th annual Tournament of Hope Golf Classic at the Yacht and Country Club in Stuart.

Since its founding in 1984, House of Hope has provided basic human needs for people struggling through difficult times. The agency provides food, clothing, case management and emergency financial assistance to people who work hard but find themselves unable to make ends meet.

Today, House of Hope operates four locations -- Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown and Jensen Beach -- each with a thrift store and service center for clients. The thrift stores provide about one-third of the agency’s cash income, and 95 percent of all donations are dedicated to helping clients.

“Most residents and visitors see only the beautiful life of Martin County,” executive director Patrick Slattery said. “But thousands of low-wage service workers, senior citizens and single parents are struggling to keep up with the basic necessities of life.”

During its silver anniversary year, House of Hope is highlighting its community services, which have been more vital than ever during the downward spiral of the economy over the past couple of years.

“People who live paycheck-to-paycheck or on a fixed income have suddenly found themselves in crisis as prices rise, jobs dry up and businesses close or cut back hours,” Slattery said. “Our Food Pantries, Clothes Closets and Emergency Financial Assistance programs help bridge gaps for them.”

Here are some sterling statistics about House of Hope’s service over the past 25 years:

• House of Hope has given out nearly 1,700 tons of food – equaling about 3.7 million meals – to more than 43,200 families. About a third of this amount feeds hungry children.

• The Emergency Financial Assistance program has provided more than $1.4 million in bill payments to assist more than 7,500 families who otherwise would have been homeless, or without utilities or prescription medications or other critical needs.

For more information about House of Hope, call (772) 286-4673, or visit www.hohmartin.org.