H.O.M.E. Word – A blog from Project H.O.M.E.

Edith Ann and her big chair. Ernestine the rude telephone receptionist. Trudy the bag lady. Ms. Frizzle from Magic School Bus series. 

These are just a few of the classic characters actor and comedian Lily Tomlin has crafted over the years. But they hardly outshine her role as advocate for and supporter of society's most vulnerable, making her a worthy recipient of this year's Golden Heart Award at a May 2 private fundraising event.

The Golden Heart Award was established in 2009 to celebrate and pay tribute to those individuals who, by the force of their character, the power of their values, and the generosity of their heart, honor the mission of Project H.O.M.E. These individuals strive to make an impact in breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty – empowering adults, children and families to attain their fullest potential.

Past honorees are Jon Bon Jovi, 2009 and General Colin L. Powell (Ret.), 2011. Tomlin, a long-time friend of Project H.O.M.E., provided her first service to the Project H.O.M.E. community when she peformed her one-woman show, "The Search for Intelligent Life in the Universe", for residents of our women's shelter. 

This year’s event raised $200,000 to help formerly homeless men and women – including veterans – re-enter the workforce and find meaningful permanent employment opportunities.  Specifically, it will expand Project H.O.M.E.’s highly successful Exelon Veterans Training and Internship Program that places formerly homeless veterans in internships and mentors them to re-enter the workforce. We have seen how employment coupled with housing can change people’s lives and their futures. This substantial support truly makes a huge difference in our work, and most importantly changes the lives of the people and families we serve. 

Speaking at the luncheon, a recent graduate of the internship program, Stanford Broadwater, Jr (pictured above with Tomlin) – who formerly served our country as a United States Marine Corps Sergeant – credited the program with not only giving him important job skills, but also helping him reconnect with his family, friends and take on personal obligations that he had previously shirked. Broadwater and six other program participants recently gathered to celebrate their graduation – and their newly-secured employment. PECO, an Exelon subsidiary, was so impressed with the 100 percent success rate they presented a check to Project H.O.M.E. to ensure continued funding for the program. (Read more about the graduation here.)

Thanks to Lily Tomlin, the luncheon co-hosts (Christine Connelly, Jeffrey Gordon, Daniel Hilferty, Lynne Honickman, James and Sharon O’Brien, Lynn Salvo and Susan Sherman), the program sponsors (Exelon/PECO and Independence Blue Cross), and attendees of the 2012 Golden Heart Luncheon. 

Our volunteer-organized knitting club is in need of resupply! They are asking for the following items:

• 100 percent wool yarn
• Fabric for sewing and quilting
• Batting
• Thread

Please contact Volunteer & In-Kind Donation Coordinator Carly Ianuzzi at 215-232-7272 x3015 or carlyianuzzi@projecthome.org to donate. Items we do have plenty of is acrylic needles and yarn. Thanks anyway!

Also, if you'd like to purchase one or more items hand-crafted by our talented residents, stop by Sweet Mabel Folk Art & Fine Craft Gallery in Narberth tomorrow from 6 pm to 9 pm.

For a preview of their work, click the pics below:

Hello, friends! Do you have a digital camera - gently used, please - that was rendered obsolete by a recent upgrade? We could use it! More specifically, the residents at our Kairos House location are in need of 6 digital cameras for a photography workshop. If you have such an item, please contact our awesome Volunteer and In-Kind Donation Coordinator Carly Ianuzzi at 215-232-7272 x3015 or carlyianuzzi@projecthome.org.

We recently received a lovely card in the mail containing an even lovelier message from our new friend, Danielle Heitmann. In her own words:

“Thank you for all the good work you do for our city. I am so inspired by the many ways you reach out to the homeless and try to get them back on their feet. Here are the earnings of my ‘Birthday Service Project’ in July. About 20 of my friends and family split up into teams to fundraise around Rittenhouse Park. I pray that the money goes wherever the most need is.”

Pretty inspiring. And a reminder that fundraising needn’t be something conducted exclusively by dedicated nonprofit staffers. If you appreciate and respect the work of a particular organization, be a proactive supporter! Thanks for providing an excellent example Danielle!

Danielle Heitmann's DIY Fundraisers

Eagles great and current Monday Night Football color commentator Ron “Jaws” Jaworski and his foundation, Jaws Youth Playbook, are hosting a golf tournament on Wednesday, October 5, with proceeds going toward the construction of a playground in our Ridge/Diamond neighborhood. For more information on the “Swinging for Swings” events – or, better yet, to register – click on through.