Two Successful Events Raise Funds for Victims' Services
Thirteenth Annual Style Show in March Plus Ponderosa with Panache in April Highlight Busy Spring
Two spring events kept the Safe Place board of directors busy and raised over $200,000 for victims' services in the Permian Basin. These two events raised money to fund the counseling and legal advocacy services in Midland and Odessa. Funds will also support families using shelter services in 2008.
A Gift of Hope, the 13th Annual Style Show and Luncheon held March 11th at the Midland Country Club, was once again sold out with more than 370 ladies in attendance to enjoy an elegant luncheon and stunning spring fashions presented by Julian Gold. The gift motif was carried throughout the invitations and decorations with stacks of gaily gift-wrapped boxes gracing the foyer and silent auction tables. Cathy Eastham Fine Jewelry donated an exquisite cross necklace by JudeFrances for the benefit raffle. Two very talented and hard-working ladies lent their support as event chairmen Mary de Compiegne and Judy Corrigan.
In April, Ponderosa with Panache inaugurated a new fundraising event for Safe Place in Odessa. Rhonda Gilliam, Cherie Hensley, and Gin Black, Odessa board members, conceived of the idea of a celebrity chef dinner an evening event for couples featuring a gourmet meal and a live auction. After months of brainstorming, research, legwork and planning the evening came together on April 17th at the Odessa Country Club. Besides the event committee, the event chairmen, Rhonda and Frosty Gilliam and Jeannette and Dan Hollmann provided creative guidance as they publicized the event throughout the community.
Guests enjoyed unique appetizers and cocktails on the patio, then came into the ballroom for an elegant three-course dinner prepared and presented by Chef Love. During dessert, Chef Love and auctioneer Martin Stringer, along with celebrity auctioneers Tatum Hubbard and Jay Hendricks, invited the audience to bid on a variety of unique times, including Chef Love's chef's coat and his signature cowboy hat. Other auction items included vacation getaways to Cibolo Creek Ranch Retreat and Lajitas Resort & Spa. Cathy Eastham Fine Jewelry again donated a designer pearl and 18-karat gold necklace.
Thanks to Donors' Generosity, Safe Place Receives First $100,000 from Foundations' Circle
New and increased donations totaling $100,000 enabled Safe Place to qualify for the first year of matching funds made possible by the Foundations' Circle a group comprised of the Abell-Hanger Foundation, the Helen Greathouse Charitable Trust, and the James A. "Buddy" Davidson Charitable Foundation. Donors "current and brand new" responded to the challenge and contributed a total of $111,195.68, far exceeding the $100,000 total, before the deadline of September 30, 2008. The total in donations, plus the matching $100,000 goes a long way toward replacing the $225,000 eliminated when two government contracts were not renewed for fiscal 2008. Your generosity means that trained and experienced Safe Place staff will continue providing life-changing services to families struggling to overcome domestic violence.
The Foundations' Circle sees this matching grant initiative as a way to broaden and deepen our donors' commitment to the Safe Place mission. The multi-year grant will once again match up to $100,000 in new and renewed donations through 2009 and 2010, thus doubling the effectiveness of your annual contribution. Safe Place is fortunate to have faithful partners who believe in investing in healthy families and safer communities. Our sincere thanks to all who have contributed to this matching grant initiative.
ConocoPhillips Joins Circle of Hope
With a contribution of $10,000 in April, ConocoPhillips joins the Leadership Circle of the Circle of Hope giving society. Local ConocoPhillips Corporate Philanthropic Team members Jane Scheele and Sheila Shipp delivered the check and had a tour of the Safe Place shelter. ConocoPhillips continues to be an outstanding corporate partner in the mission to help families overcome the effects of domestic violence. This contribution will provide 90 days of shelter services for a family of four. Shelter services include meals prepared by a staff cook, counseling and advocacy services for adult victims, parenting classes, a full-time children's program, transportation to work, school, daycare, medical and legal appointments, advocacy with a legal specialist, and more. Using these services, survivors gain the tools they need to build new lives for themselves and their children.
Thank you ConocoPhillips!
