Page 19 - PGA Community News - May '24

May 2024 May 2024 PGA C.A.N.!, Page 19

SleepOut Raises from page 18 Place’ new headquarters, Fortin Family Campus, at 2808 thousands of men, women, and children in Palm Beach
North Australian Ave. in West Palm Beach. Others throughout County who sleep out every night – not by choice but by
than $700,000 was raised to support the agency’s programs and the country viewed the program via livestream. Whether circumstance.
services aimed to break the cycle of homelessness for men, attending in person or tuning into the virtual program, all CEO of The Lord’s Place Diana Stanley echoed the same
women and children in Palm Beach County. participants dedicated the night to ending homelessness. clear message that has been repeated for the last 17 years,
Approximately 250 community members including The Recognized as “the great equalizer,” this signature annual “Supportive housing is the key to ending homelessness. We
Lord’s Place staff, volunteers, clients, community leaders, event unites people from diverse backgrounds, economics, pledge to continue advocating for systemic reform, ensuring
supporters and friends, enjoyed the live program at The Lord’s cultures and circumstances to stand in solidarity with the that housing is not a privilege, but a fundamental human right.”
Various clients told their stories of how the agency
empowered them to reimagine their lives beyond the streets,
by equipping them with the tools for change, including: street
engagement, job training, clinical services, reentry support
and housing.
57-year-old Richard Phillips disclosed his family history
of addiction, alcoholism and incarceration. With 33 felony
convictions and a total of 17 years behind bars, Phillips cycled
between incarceration and homelessness until he finally found
long-term care and housing through The Lord’s Place.
“I needed to unhomelessness myself, once and for all.
The pain of staying the same became greater than the pain
Graduate client Richard Phillips, Chief Human Resources Officer Jan Phillips, of changing. And all of a sudden, the people of The Lord’s
CEO Diana Stanley, graduate client Michelle Longarzo Danaluk, during the candlelight ceremony Place were there for me. And yes, they saved my life,”
shared Phillips.
While living at the William H. Mann Place for men
in Boynton Beach, Phillips took advantage of all of the
programs and services offered. Today, he is eight years clean
and sober, works full-time at Publix, lives in The Lord’s
Place graduate housing, and gives back and helps others.
Phillips added, “My family is proud of me … my sisters
have found strength in my journey. I’m the first person in
my family to break the mold. And I’m never going back to
that life.”
The reimagined program stayed true to The Lord’s Place
mission and commitment to their clients. While attendees did
not spend the night at the actual event, all were encouraged
to step outside their comfort zone by sleeping out somewhere
other than their bed. Some chose setting up a sleeping bag on
the living room floor and others slept in a tent in the backyard or
on their porch. SleepOut is a symbolic effort to raise awareness
of the estimated 3,000 men, women, and children without a
home on any given night in Palm Beach County.
Since 1979, The Lord’s Place has been finding solutions
and providing services to take more people off the streets
and into homes. For more information on The Lord’s Place
or to make a donation to support the transformation of lives
of the most vulnerable and neglected in Palm Beach County,
visit: thelordsplace.org.
Top sponsors who made SleepOut possible include: The
Honorable Ann Brown, Laraine and Michael Stevens, Searcy
Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, PA, Carol and Will
Browne, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Cornelia and
Richard Thornburgh, Sally and Bob Gilbane and OSCWebco.

Palm Beach Atlantic basketball players who served as
event volunteers

Gurunam Khalsa and Volunteer Coordinator Jasper Araujo

Attendees applauding the Honorable Ann Brown for
matching SleepOut donations for the eighth consecutive year