Home for Good: Join the Housing Revolution
Fifth Annual Fundraising Event for the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

On May 21, 2008 more than 300 MHSA members, friends and supporters gathered in the Rooftop Ballroom of the Omni Parker House Hotel and overflowed into the next room for our largest fundraiser to date.  Click here for a photo gallery from the event.

Home for Good: Join the Housing Revolution, the fifth annual MHSA awards and fundraising event, honored Marc & Anne Margulies, State Representative Bob DeLeo and Gerry McCafferty of the City of Springfield for their outstanding work in ending homelessness.  “As we saw tonight, momentum is growing for a revolution in the way homelessness is addressed in Massachusetts,” said MHSA Executive Director Joe Finn.  “The turnout for this event shows us that the message is getting out: ending homelessness is possible, and people want to be a part of it.”

The evening began with an informal cocktail hour where guests mingled while enjoying the carving station and pasta stations, passed hors d’oeuvres and open bar.  Tom Collins, Executive Managing Director of Cushman & Wakefield of Massachusetts and a MHSA board member, opened the awards presentations by recognizing the tremendous strides made in ending homelessness by MHSA and its member agencies, especially over the past few years.  MHSA Executive Director Joe Finn (pictured, right, with State Representative Kevin Honan and TLC Marketing President Walter Osterman) shared his excitement about the direction that the state is moving – from an emergency response to permanent solutions – before the awards presentations began.

State Representative Byron Rushing presented the William Lloyd Garrison Lifetime Achievement Award to Representative DeLeo, Gerry McCafferty received the MHSA Cornerstone Award, and Marc & Anne Margulies received the inaugural Bob Ray Partnership Award, named after the late Robert E. Ray, who used his business savvy and philanthropic spirit to develop new approaches to ending homelessness.  Mr. Ray’s widow, Sandra and two of their three daughters were on hand to share some stories about Mr. Ray’s commitment to the cause and to present the award to the Margulies’.

Pictured clockwise: Rep. Byron Rushing and Rep. DeLeo, Joe Finn and Gerry McCafferty, Marc & Anne Margulies with the Ray family.






Guests continued to mingle after the presentations, bid on silent auction items and enjoy the jazz trio and elegant atmosphere.  Many were moved by the slide show and portrait gallery of homeless individuals, which reminded attendees that those we see on the streets and in shelters every day are family members – they are someone’s mother, sister, brother and son – and that supporting MHSA helps these vulnerable individuals obtain keys to a happy, healthy new start.

MHSA is grateful to the Omni Parker House, our sponsors, attendees and especially to photographer Tara Morris and TLC Marketing, who spent hours of donated time capturing images and crafting them into the slide show and portrait gallery.

Click here for photos from the evening.  We look forward to seeing you at our next event as we continue the housing revolution!