Radio host Dennis Prager Helps Shelter for Homeless Pregnant Women Raise $80,000
Jenine Baines
April 05, 2008
PASADENA, Calif. Since its founding in 1994, Elizabeth House – the only shelter for homeless pregnant women and their children in the San Gabriel Valley – has shared a number of its mothers´ success stories with supporters. But at its recent Era for Change, Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness gala on Saturday, March 29, which raised over $80,000, the nonprofit organization invited a former resident with a slightly different perspective to address the audience of over 230 people gathered at the University Club in Pasadena for the benefit auction and dinner.
Fifteen-year old Calvin Blinkenberg was only three years old when he and his mother Wendy, who was pregnant with his sister Bianca, called Elizabeth House home. Yet Blinkenberg, now a freshman at Glendale High School who spends his summers clearing brush for the City of Glendale, has never forgotten the "love and support" he found at the shelter.
"Our family was provided with a loving home and peace of mind, knowing the future was about to get brighter," said Blinkenberg, whose future plans now include attending college. "We always look forward to the Christmas Party and Summer Picnic at Elizabeth House and wouldn´t miss the opportunity to share this time with our extended family. I truly believe it has contributed to our success."
Following the teenager as keynote speaker was nationally syndicated radio host Dennis Prager, who can be heard here in Los Angeles on KRLA 870 AM, from 9 a.m. to noon. He selected his topic – "How to Make a Better World" – because Elizabeth House is a place that is doing just that, Prager told the audience.
"Almost all good is done on a one by one by one basis, just as Elizabeth House changes the lives of its residents one by one," said Prager, who has recently made a change of his own by moving to La Canada Flintridge.
Elizabeth House offers homeless pregnant women and their children far more than shelter and food. Residents take classes in pre-natal healthcare, parent education, and home and financial management. They also receive job skills training and therapeutic counseling and case management. In addition, Elizabeth House provides a "follow up" program, which includes many of these services, for over 100 alumnae.
"This year was our most successful gala yet," said Angelina Coe, Executive Director of Development and Administration for Elizabeth House. "Thanks to our generous supporters, we can continue to do as Dennis urges and ´make a better world.´ We´re also extremely grateful to the Benefit Committee and co-chairs Maritza Smith, Rosalie Halverson and Valerie Leiva who devoted countless hours to planning the silent auction, dinner, program, and live auction. When Dennis spoke about how our first and foremost goal should be personal goodness, I thought of them instantly. They´re my role models."
In fact, inspired by stories from ´role models´ like Calvin and Wendy Blinkenberg, Elizabeth House has instituted a new fund this year, an Education and Scholarship Commitment. An additional $8200 was raised at the benefit for the fund.
"So many years have passed since we left Elizabeth House," said Calvin Blinkenberg. "And yet sometimes it feels as if we never left. The good they do never stops."
The mission of Elizabeth House is to provide shelter and family-oriented support to homeless pregnant women and their children through a comprehensive program that addresses the physical, emotional, spiritual, and economic needs of women and children in a nurturing atmosphere. To learn more about Elizabeth House, call 626.577.4434 or visit www.elizabethhouse.net.
Fifteen-year old Calvin Blinkenberg was only three years old when he and his mother Wendy, who was pregnant with his sister Bianca, called Elizabeth House home. Yet Blinkenberg, now a freshman at Glendale High School who spends his summers clearing brush for the City of Glendale, has never forgotten the "love and support" he found at the shelter.
"Our family was provided with a loving home and peace of mind, knowing the future was about to get brighter," said Blinkenberg, whose future plans now include attending college. "We always look forward to the Christmas Party and Summer Picnic at Elizabeth House and wouldn´t miss the opportunity to share this time with our extended family. I truly believe it has contributed to our success."
Following the teenager as keynote speaker was nationally syndicated radio host Dennis Prager, who can be heard here in Los Angeles on KRLA 870 AM, from 9 a.m. to noon. He selected his topic – "How to Make a Better World" – because Elizabeth House is a place that is doing just that, Prager told the audience.
"Almost all good is done on a one by one by one basis, just as Elizabeth House changes the lives of its residents one by one," said Prager, who has recently made a change of his own by moving to La Canada Flintridge.
Elizabeth House offers homeless pregnant women and their children far more than shelter and food. Residents take classes in pre-natal healthcare, parent education, and home and financial management. They also receive job skills training and therapeutic counseling and case management. In addition, Elizabeth House provides a "follow up" program, which includes many of these services, for over 100 alumnae.
"This year was our most successful gala yet," said Angelina Coe, Executive Director of Development and Administration for Elizabeth House. "Thanks to our generous supporters, we can continue to do as Dennis urges and ´make a better world.´ We´re also extremely grateful to the Benefit Committee and co-chairs Maritza Smith, Rosalie Halverson and Valerie Leiva who devoted countless hours to planning the silent auction, dinner, program, and live auction. When Dennis spoke about how our first and foremost goal should be personal goodness, I thought of them instantly. They´re my role models."
In fact, inspired by stories from ´role models´ like Calvin and Wendy Blinkenberg, Elizabeth House has instituted a new fund this year, an Education and Scholarship Commitment. An additional $8200 was raised at the benefit for the fund.
"So many years have passed since we left Elizabeth House," said Calvin Blinkenberg. "And yet sometimes it feels as if we never left. The good they do never stops."
The mission of Elizabeth House is to provide shelter and family-oriented support to homeless pregnant women and their children through a comprehensive program that addresses the physical, emotional, spiritual, and economic needs of women and children in a nurturing atmosphere. To learn more about Elizabeth House, call 626.577.4434 or visit www.elizabethhouse.net.
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