Page 8 - Talk of Tequesta - May '24

Page 8, The Talk Of Tequesta

fundraising

SleepOut Raises $700,000-Plus So More Can Sleep In Homes

The Lord’s Place 17th Annual SleepOut Reemphasizes Housing As A Human Right

After 17 years, The Lord’s Place SleepOut evolved into a
unique hybrid event uniting people across the country on one
shared night with a shared mission. On Friday, April 5 people
from all walks of life dedicated the night differently, but all with
a common goal – shining a light on homelessness and raising
essential funds to bring an end to it. Including the dollar-for-dollar
match from the Honorable Ann Brown, more than $700,000 was
raised to support the agency’s programs and services aimed to
break the cycle of homelessness for men, women and children
in Palm Beach County.
Approximately 250 community members including The
Lord’s Place staff, volunteers, clients, community leaders, Graduate client Richard Phillips, Chief Human Resources Officer Jan Phillips, CEO Diana Stanley,
supporters and friends, enjoyed the live program at The Lord’s graduate client Michelle Longarzo Danaluk, during the candlelight ceremony
Place’ new headquarters, Fortin Family Campus, at 2808 North
Australian Ave. in West Palm Beach. Others throughout the
country viewed the program via livestream. Whether attending
in person or tuning into the virtual program, all participants
dedicated the night to ending homelessness.
Recognized as “the great equalizer,” this signature annual
event unites people from diverse backgrounds, economics,
cultures and circumstances to stand in solidarity with the
thousands of men, women, and children in Palm Beach County
who sleep out every night – not by choice but by circumstance.
CEO of The Lord’s Place Diana Stanley echoed the same clear
message that has been repeated for the last 17 years, “Supportive
housing is the key to ending homelessness. We pledge to continue Staff of The Lord’s Place: Rupert Williams, Danzell Madison, Palm Beach Atlantic basketball players who served as
advocating for systemic reform, ensuring that housing is not a Tasha Harris event volunteers
privilege, but a fundamental human right.”
Various clients told their bars, Phillips cycled between incarceration and homelessness out somewhere other than their bed. Some chose setting
stories of how the agency until he finally found long-term care and housing through The up a sleeping bag on the living room floor and others slept
empowered them to reimagine Lord’s Place. in a tent in the backyard or on their porch. SleepOut is a
their lives beyond the streets, “I needed to unhomelessness myself, once and for all. symbolic effort to raise awareness of the estimated 3,000
by equipping them with the The pain of staying the same became greater than the pain of men, women, and children without a home on any given
tools for change, including: changing. And all of a sudden, the people of The Lord’s Place night in Palm Beach County.
street engagement, job were there for me. And yes, they saved my life,” shared Phillips. Since 1979, The Lord’s Place has been finding solutions
training, clinical services, While living at the William H. Mann Place for men in and providing services to take more people off the streets
reentry support and housing. Boynton Beach, Phillips took advantage of all of the programs and into homes. For more information on The Lord’s Place
57-year-old Richard and services offered. Today, he is eight years clean and sober, or to make a donation to support the transformation of lives
Phillips disclosed his works full-time at Publix, lives in The Lord’s Place graduate of the most vulnerable and neglected in Palm Beach County,
family history of addiction, housing, and gives back and helps others. visit: thelordsplace.org.
alcoholism and incarceration. Phillips added, “My family is proud of me … my sisters have Top sponsors who made SleepOut possible include: The
With 33 felony convictions Cornie Thornburgh, Patsy found strength in my journey. I’m the first person in my family Honorable Ann Brown, Laraine and Michael Stevens, Searcy
and a total of 17 years behind and Don Mitmire to break the mold. And I’m never going back to that life.” Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, PA, Carol and Will
The reimagined program stayed true to The Lord’s Browne, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Cornelia and
Place mission and commitment to their clients. While Richard Thornburgh, Sally and Bob Gilbane and OSCWebco.
attendees did not spend the night at the actual event, all were
encouraged to step outside their comfort zone by sleeping Fundraising on page 9

The Sisters SleepOut fundraising team Roberta Stanley,
Diana Stanley and Joanne Stanley

Anthony Hoskins dancing with the Honorable Ann Brown
during the concluding song of SleepOut

Gurunam Khalsa and Volunteer Coordinator Jasper Araujo