Joseph & Mary's Home annual benefit luncheon raises a record $113,500 to support healing and assistance with permanent housing

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Tags: Joseph and Mary's Home , Outreach

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Joseph & Mary's Home hosted its annual Perseverance in Hope Benefit Luncheon in Cleveland in the fall, setting a new record by raising $113,500 to support healing and assistance with permanent housing. Secretary Marcia L. Fudge, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, served as the keynote speaker at the luncheon. A recap of the luncheon appears in the most recent issue of The Journey, the biannual newsletter of Joseph & Mary’s Home.

The text of the luncheon article is below. Read the complete newsletter here.

Perseverance in Hope 2023

“Things now are excellent. God has gifted me the entire way. I’m now a Tri-C graduate and I got the keys to my own apartment a week ago today. Everything has come together,” Joseph & Mary’s Home alum Stuart Survance.

Stuart spoke those words to 400 people at the Perseverance in Hope 2023 Benefit Luncheon at Windows on the River in Cleveland on October 12. The luncheon set a new record by raising $113,500 to support healing and assistance with permanent housing. Secretary Marcia L. Fudge, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, called everyone to action in her keynote speech. She said, “Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.”

Secretary Fudge talked about the crisis in the country, where evictions and rents are both on the rise and there is a lack of affordable housing. “We need to find ways to keep roofs over heads. It is time for us to live up to the ideals that we are the greatest nation,” she said. “We have the tools to end homelessness. We need more organizations like Joseph & Mary’s Home, whose work ensures people can go from hurt to heal with hope for a better tomorrow.”

Dan Moulthrop, CEO of The City Club of Cleveland, emceed the event for the 11th consecutive year. As part of the luncheon program, he interviewed alumni Christiane Drellishak and Stuart Survance, who have both secured housing after stabilizing their health at Joseph & Mary’s Home.

Recognized at the luncheon were Richard C. Gallagher, recipient of the 2023 David Henderson Memorial Award and the United Way of Greater Cleveland, recipient of the 2023 Dream Team Partnership in Service Award. Kenneth Surratt, chief development and investment officer for the United Way, accepted the award from Jan Murphy, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System.

Rich’s brother Kevin presented him with the David Henderson Memorial Award. In presenting the award, Kevin said, “Selfless service and giving back is what this award is about. I’m honored to present this award to my brother Rich Gallagher.”

Pictured are Executive Director Beth Graham, Secretary Fudge and Board Chair Anthony Searcy.

Joseph & Mary's Home is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System.