“Art of Getting Home” Kicks off the Fall Event Season

The third annual “Art of Getting Home” benefit will be held Friday, Sept. 11 to benefit Friendship Shelter programs to help the homeless.

Also for the third year, the event will be chaired by longstanding supporters Jill Edwards and Kathleen Abel. Joining the team this year is Sarah Thorne-Markman. A former model and fashion editor in New York before she migrated to Laguna Beach six years ago, Markman will develop an expanded auction to include arts-related travel and special interest packages, augmenting the fine art auction central to the event.

 Last year, 250 supporters enjoyed fine wine, food and dancing at [seven-degrees] who will again host, and purchased 35 paintings donated by local artists, some of which were created especially for the event.

Honorary Chairs for this year’s event are Friendship Shelter Trustees: John and Lisa Mansour, Keith and Judy Swayne, and Keiko Sakamoto and Bill Witte. Trustees were formed last year in honor of the organization’s 20th anniversary, to provide philanthropic leadership.

“We are planning another great party,” Edwards said. “No pomp and circumstance, just great food, lively music, beautiful art and an opportunity to make a real difference for people desperately in need, especially during these difficult times.”

Event sponsorships are available from $1,000 to $20,000, including tickets to the event, and invitations will be mailed mid-summer. Members of the organization’s Key Club, who donate $5,000 during the year, are invited as special guests.

Friendship Shelter is the only residential shelter in south Orange County. A self-sufficiency program in Laguna Beach, for which there is always a waiting list, provides a home-base, three meals daily and a wide range of support services to 31 men and women at a time. Graduates may apply to Henderson House, located in San Clemente, where 24 residents live for up to one year, allowing them to consolidate their gains and continue on the path to independent living.

To secure a sponsorship, contact Taylor Mathieson or Randy Kraft at 949.494.6928 or tmathieson@friendshipshelter.org. To learn more about Friendship Shelter, go to www.friendshipshelter.org.