Holiday Spirit Arrives Early at Beacon of Hope Gala November 6

0

The Success Project

Proceeds will provide outerwear, food and activities for Havre de Grace Housing Authority residents
and financial counseling for participants in The SUCCESS Project.

 

They may have worn business attire, but to the organizers of the fourth annual Beacon of Hope Gala on November 6, the attendees of the event looked like Santa. Through the purchase of tickets and bids on live and silent auction items, the generosity of guests will provide winter coats to the children of the Somerset Manor community; stock the Havre de Grace Housing Authority (HDGHA) pantry with food and household supplies; offset the costs of field trips and summer camp for neighborhood youth; and support the programs of The SUCCESS Project, an affiliate of the HDGHA that provides low-income individuals and families with services that teach life skills and encourage personal economic independence.

Many local officials, as well as other members of the community, generously supported the work of the Havre de Grace Housing Authority at the organization’s November 6 Beacon of Hope fundraiser.
Many local officials, as well as other members of the community, generously supported the work of the Havre de Grace Housing Authority at the organization’s November 6 Beacon of Hope fundraiser.

 

Twinkling white lights and the musical stylings of the Upstairs Jazz Trio greeted the crowd as they arrived at Bulle Rock, while inside a huge variety of items donated by area businesses awaited bids for both a live and silent auction. Among the supporters in attendance were Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler; City of Havre de Grace Mayor William Martin; Harford County Councilman Curtis Beulah; Havre de Grace Police Chief Teresa Walter; City of Havre de Grace Council President Stephen Gamatoria; and City of Havre de Grace Council Members David Martin, Monica Worrell and Michael Hitchings.

Ann Chealey (left), the Family Self-Sufficiency Program Coordinator, and Nicki Biggs (right), Executive Director of The SUCCESS Project, present Sheree Sumler with a certificate of recognition.
Ann Chealey (left), the Family Self-Sufficiency Program Coordinator, and Nicki Biggs (right), Executive Director of The SUCCESS Project, present Sheree Sumler with a certificate of recognition.

 

In addition to the live auction led by professional auctioneer Robert McArtor, the Havre de Grace Housing Authority also announced its Volunteer of the Year, 17-year-old Sydney Biggs, who has served the community for the last 13 years.  The evening also featured an awards presentation to recognize the accomplishments towards economic self-sufficiency of twelve participants in the Housing Authority’s Family Self-Sufficiency program. Honorees received a special gift and certificates and proclamations from dignitaries including U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski; State Senator Robert Cassilly; State Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti; Harford County Executive Barry Glassman; Harford County Councilman Curtis Beulah; and City of Havre de Grace Mayor William Martin. This year’s event recognized the accomplishments of the following participants:  Donnisshia Moulden, Raymond Blango, Towanda Jones, Sheila Killibrew, Chrystal Morris, Martinea Trippett-Felton, Warren Felton, Araceli Rivera, Josue Torres, Sheree Sumler, Shiesa Brown and Edward Brown, Jr.

17-year old Sydney Biggs was named the Havre de Grace Housing Authority Volunteer of the Year.
17-year old Sydney Biggs was named the Havre de Grace Housing Authority Volunteer of the Year.

 

The SUCCESS Project Executive Director Nicki Biggs says, “The Beacon of Hope Dinner is always a highlight of the year, and with so many local officials in attendance, this year was even better than usual. Our residents will directly benefit from the proceeds of this fundraiser, but equally importantly, through this gathering they felt like a genuine part of the community. The generosity of spirit that was shown will fuel their ongoing success and also enable us to provide resources to help more families achieve financial independence.”

For more information about The SUCCESS Project or the Havre de Grace Housing authority, visit the organization’s website.

 

About The SUCCESS Project (http://hdgha.org/)
The “SUCCESS” in The SUCCESS Project stands for “Supporting the Upward Climb to Continued Economic Self-Sufficiency.”  The mission of the non-profit is to provide at-risk youth and low-income adults with services that teach life skills and encourage personal economic independence. The program is free and provides case management and referral services in the following areas: education, job training, employment opportunities, health care, financial education, credit counseling, home ownership, career advancement, transportation, life skills and entrepreneurship.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.