“Cowboy” Gala Raises $337,000 to Help the Homeless
Photo Gallery
 Honorees Elliot Borkson and Ali Waldman
Presenter Fred Perry, BPHI Board member Michael Stephan, AutoNation's Gale Butler & Jim Tuefel and BPHI CEO Frances Esposito
FORT LAUDERDALE – As the evening sun set over the Everglades more than 400 VIP guests enjoyed a true “Florida Cowboy” experience at Ron Bergeron’s Green Glades Ranch. Cowboys in Stetsons and rhinestone cowgirls danced under a beautiful Florida moon as they honored three community leaders - Aleida (Ali) Ors Waldman, Esq., the Leo Goodwin Foundation and AutoNation, Inc, - for the dramatic impact they have made on how we help the homeless in our community.
More than $337,000 was raised at the “Salute to Leadership” to benefit Broward Partnership for the Homeless, Inc. (BPHI) that was celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the opening of the Broward County Central Homeless Assistance Center (Center) on the
Huizenga Family Campus.
The 2009 James J. Blosser Community Trusteeship Award was presented to Ali Waldman for her tireless efforts to make Broward County a better place for all its citizens.
In the early 1990s when Broward County was struggling with an increasing homeless situation, Ali put in motion the full force of her passion to move our community to find a solution to “Tent City.” Her tenacity helped to turn a merciless eyesore into a source of hope and dignity for those in need. Ali was instrumental in bringing our community and its political leaders together to embrace an innovative approach to helping the homeless – a full service homeless assistance center.
A special presentation of an original piece of assigned art work created by a BPHI resident was presented to Ali. It was a drawing of her horse “Homey” and it came with the deep gratitude of the homeless she has helped.
The Foundation Trusteeship Award was presented to the Leo Goodwin Foundation whose generosity has enabled BPHI to develop its highly successful solution-focused programs that have resulted in BPHI being acknowledged as a model program for reducing homelessness. Throughout the past 11-years, the Foundation’s support has helped rebuild more than 13,000 lives, provided thousands of nutritious meals to the hungry, safe shelter and child care to families and job training to an eager workforce.
In addition to financial support, Foundation Trustee Elliot Borkson provided visionary leadership as a passionate architect who built relationships with government leaders, local community groups and philanthropists to enable BPHI to be the success it is today.
The 2009 Corporate Trusteeship Award was awarded to AutoNation, Inc. for their years of generous financial support, the donation of their executives’ professional expertise and the volunteer efforts of their employees.
In 1997, when AutoNation’s then chair, Wayne Huizenga, together with Jim Blosser, spearheaded the capital campaign to build the Homeless Assistance Center, AutoNation and its employees have been a treasured and valued partner of BPHI. The company has lent its senior executives to serve BPHI in a leadership capacity in the areas of finance and fundraising. AutoNation employees also have a long tradition of volunteering at the Center. They sponsor, cook and serve Christmas Day dinner every year and their volunteer efforts include helping at fundraising events, conducting drives for toiletries, men’s clothing and canned goods, and various “spruce-up” projects around the Center. Each project brought its own reward for those volunteers who understood that their efforts are rebuilding the lives of the homeless.
BPHI is very grateful to those companies and organizations who found a way to support the Gala especially Platinum Sponsors Bergeron Land Development, The Leo Goodwin Foundation, and Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler, Attorneys at Law. Also Gold Sponsor AutoNation and Silver Sponsors The Batchelor Foundation, Emerald Assets & Ultimate Software, Robert & Cindy Raymond and Sun Sentinel.
BPHI operates the Broward County Central Homeless Assistance Center on the Huizenga Family campus, a 200-bed emergency housing facility for homeless men, women and families with children, and Inverrary Station, a 62-bed transitional housing facility for the elderly homeless who are disabled.
Since opening its doors in 1999, more than 13,000 homeless individuals have taken advantage of the services provided by BPHI – in addition to a safe secure place to stay and nutritional meals, BPHI residents receive mental health counseling, primary medical and dental care, substance abuse treatment, case management, education, vocational training, employment services, and support services for the families including day care for the children.
Co-Chairs for the Gala event were: Ron Bergeron, Elliot Borkson, Esq., Gale Butler, Dodie Keith-Lazowick, Ray de la Feuilliez and Debbie Orshefsky, Esq. Members of the Gala committee are Bob Benson, Kim Crossley, Arthur Greenfeder, Howard Hammer, Elizabeth Jacobs, Elliot Melamed, Kevin & Janice Leonard, John Primeau and Carlos Reyes, Esq.
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