Portland, April 25, 2014. Human Solutions raised $62,500 at its “Tonight’s the Night” auction and gala at the Melody Ballroom. The event featured silent and live auctions, a buffet dinner, and signature cocktails. The 140 guests in attendance embraced mobile bidding on their smartphones during the silent auction. The evening’s auctioneer was Jason Demicheli of Demicheli Benefit Auctions. Tony Starlight and the All Star Band entertained guests with classic hits from the past three decades. Proceeds from Tonight’s the Night support Human Solutions’ emergency shelter and housing programs that serve more than 550 homeless people in 200 families on any given night. (photo credit, Andie Petkus Photography)
Guests at Human Solutions’ Tonight’s the Night auction included Mike Steffen, Vice President/General Manager at Walsh Construction; Rich Miller, Owner, Affinity Property Management; and Carla Piluso, Board President, Human Solutions. Walsh Construction and Affinity Property Management were gold sponsors of Tonight’s the Night.
Crowd favorite, Tony Starlight, entertained guests with hits from the past three decades at Tonight’s the Night with help from his All Star Band.
Human Solutions Board Member Jesse Smith and guest Maryann Yelnosky were enthusiastic about mobile bidding on their smartphones during the silent auction at Tonight’s the Night.
Human Solutions wishes to thank the generous sponsors of Tonight’s the Night, including: Gold Sponsors, Affinity Property Management and Walsh Construction; Silver Sponsor, Kantor Taylor; Bronze Sponsor, JD Fulwiler & Company Insurance; and Empowerment Sponsors Tonkon Torp LLP, OnPoint Community Credit Union, and Adventist Health.
From Human Solutions:
To help combat poverty and homelessness, Human Solutions provides services in four interrelated areas:
*Eviction and Poverty Prevention: Each year, over 7,000 households avoid having their utilities shut off and remain warm and safe in their homes through the utility assistance Human Solutions provides. The agency also helps over 500 households facing eviction remain in their homes each year through short-term emergency rent assistance.
*Direct Services to Homeless Families: Human Solutions provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, “Housing First” programs, and permanent supportive housing. The agency moves homeless families into permanent housing as quickly as possible and then offers them the supportive services necessary to overcome their homelessness and reach self-sufficiency.
*Employment and Economic Development Programs: Human Solutions operates three distinct employment and economic development programs that help more than 600 individuals with significant barriers to employment find family wage jobs and/or improve their job skills to increase their household incomes each year.
*Affordable Housing: Human Solutions owns and operates 18 high-quality affordable housing complexes containing 701 apartments. At each property, the agency offers Resident Services, which help families maintain housing by connecting them to quality social, educational and employment services (both within Human Solutions and in the wider community) so they can move forward in their lives. Last year, about 820 families comprised of nearly 2,000 people resided in Human Solutions’ affordable housing.
