HomeSteaders Announces 15th Annual Gala to Honor Mayor

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Hickenlooper, Raise Awareness of Homeless Families

DENVER – HomeSteaders, the support auxiliary for Family HomeStead, has scheduled its 15th Annual “For the Love of Family” Gala for Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at The Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Family HomeStead provides emergency and transitional housing for many of metro Denver’s homeless families. The event will honor Mayor John Hickenlooper for his efforts in raising awareness of homelessness, in addition to HomeSteaders’ “Founding Mothers.” Nina O’Kelley, a leading broker associate with Kentwood City Properties, serves as president of HomeSteaders.

The HomeSteaders Gala will include auctions, a classical pianist, a museum exhibit, plus an elegant dinner. Guests will bid on a five-night stay at the Hyatt Regency London (the Churchill), a full day of back-country cat skiing at Monarch or sailing on America’s Cup yacht “The Stars & Stripes,” plus four nights at the Hyatt Mission Bay. Price of admission is $125 per person, or a discounted price of $90 for those under 40. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is located at 2001 Colorado Boulevard. The event will be held in the Leprino Family Atrium.

For more information and to make reservations, contact Nina O’Kelley at 303-478-6703 or via email at nina@kentwoodcity.com. Additional information is available online at http://homesteaders.familyhomestead.org and click on “Events.”

“Last year’s gala raised nearly $35,000 for Family HomeStead and we hope to double our contribution this year,” said O’Kelley. “The gala is our single biggest effort to raise much-needed funds for a very worthy non-profit. Mayor Hickenlooper has been our honorary co-chair for several years and we are acknowledging his efforts to bring the issue of homelessness to the forefront. Family HomeStead’s Executive Director, Les Jones, will present the first-ever For the Love of Family Mayoral Award. We are also excited that our ‘Founding Mothers’ will be honored for their vision of starting the auxiliary HomeSteaders 15 years ago.”

The Founding Mothers are Barbara Barnard, Margaret Garbe, Jodie Hohensee, Pat Long, Janet Manning, Mimi Stone, and Judy Winston.

“Family homelessness remains a significant issue in metro Denver,” said O’Kelley. “In our uncertain economy, many low-wage workers live a paycheck away from homelessness. Job loss or a family crisis can quickly force them over the edge. Family HomeStead provides emergency and transitional housing for many of these families. Children comprise 65 percent of our entire client population. Family HomeStead believes that shelters are not the best place for children and provides independent housing with 31 emergency apartments and 58 transitional apartments in Denver and Jefferson counties.”

Case managers work with parents to address the issues that made them homeless in the first place, helping them find jobs or job training while assisting them in next-step housing. The HomeSteaders auxiliary provides funding and supplies through membership and events. For more information, visit the organization online at http://homesteaders.familyhomestead.org.

Kentwood City Properties, formed in 1999, is the newest member of The Kentwood Companies, known nationally as Denver’s premier real estate company. The company’s street-front office at the corner of 17th and Wynkoop streets, directly across the street from Union Station, is comprised of nearly 50 of metro Denver’s most experienced real estate professionals serving residential buyers, sellers, and developers. For more information phone 303-820-CITY (2489), and visit online at www.kentwoodcity.com.

The Kentwood Companies is comprised of Kentwood City Properties, The Kentwood Company at Cherry Creek, and The Kentwood Company in the Denver Tech Center. View all Kentwood listings at www.DenverRealEstate.com.