HomeAid Orange County Raises Close to $400,000 at "Hope for Housing" Gala

HomeAid Orange County's Hope in Housing Gala held October 7, at the Balboa Bay Resort, raised nearly $400,000 to fund HomeAid OC's mission to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness build new lives through construction, community engagement, and education.

Nearly 300 guests attended the event.

Founded in 1989, HomeAid develops, builds, and preserves affordable housing through its 19 affiliates in 13 states and partners with nonprofits nationwide that provide job-skills training, financial counseling, and physical and emotional support. HomeAid has completed nearly 1,100 housing and outreach projects totaling more than $319 million and added 12,800 beds that have served over 604,000 previously homeless individuals.

"We came together to celebrate HomeAid's accomplishments and raise the critically needed funds for HomeAid's work in the upcoming year," said Dave Prolo, President of Utah Division, Meritage Homes, and event co-chair.

Prolo, along with Mike Battaglia, Southern California Division President of The New Home Company, were co-chairs of the event.

“The support tonight will propel the work and widespread impact of HomeAid in our community for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness," Battaglia added.

Guests enjoyed a hosted bar, a premier dining experience, music from The Family Style band, and a silent and live auction.

Gina Cunningham, Executive Director for HomeAid Orange County, recipient of the Barbara J. Stewart Award for Women’s Achievement, recognized the many participants who worked hard to create the event. “HomeAid believes that housing is a human right and the only way to eradicate homelessness is through housing development. I am grateful to everyone who joined so we can continue building units for unhoused people,” Cunningham stated.

A video trailer for HomeAid’s docu-series Second Chance: Coming Home, featuring Family Care Center clients Rebecca and John, was aired at the event. The series, set to be released in 2024, is a HomeAid OC partnership with Steve Cederquist Designs and Greyson Entertainment, LLC. Steve Cederquist and Slade Smiley of Greyson Entertainment discussed how the series sheds light on the journey of reclaiming life after experiencing homelessness.

During the event’s live auction, guests bid on a six-day stay in Tuscany with VIP entry to the Museum Academia and a cooking class by a classically trained Italian chef; a Greek Island vacation for eight nights; a harbor cruise for six through Alamitos Bay, Naples, and Belmont shores; a ride with race car driver John Marconi in his championship Ferrari 348; a seven-night vacation in a luxury Casa Piazza in Manilla Mexico; and a private dinner for ten at Sub-Zero Wolf with wine pairing.

Raise the Paddle created more funds for the nonprofit, especially when two families, the Lukos Family and the Gregg Miller Family Foundation, pledged a combined $25,000 towards HomeAid’s mission.

After the auction, guests danced the night away to The Family Style band.

Sponsors for the event were Murow Family Charitable Fund, Brookfield Residential, Fidelity National Title, JoAnn & Bob Strassman, Prospera, Wienerschnitzel, Landsea Homes, Jackson Tidus, City Ventures, Cox Castle, CW Driver, WestGroup Designs, First American Title, Frome Family Foundation, Infinity Plumbing Designs, Land Advisors, Meritage Homes, New Home Co., Prologis, Rancho Mission Viejo, Shea Homes, Taylor Morrison, Tri Pointe Homes, US Bank, Q4 Leaders, Shopoff Realty Investments, Intracorp Homes, Chapman, Arroyo Capital, CDC Designs, DAHLIN Architecture | Planning | Interiors, Fuscoe Engineering, Kovach Marketing, Lewis Management, MVE + PARTNERS, Outdoor Dimensions, WHA, Elizabeth Cera, City National Bank, Do Capital Group, and SMS Architects.

For more information, visit HomeAid Orange County at https://www.homeaidoc.org and follow them on social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @HomeAidOC and LinkedIn at homeaid-orange-county.