Annual Hearts of Love Gala Benefits Our Mother’s Home
Our Mother’s
Home is pleased to announce its 2014 Hearts of Love “Our Hearts are Soaring” Gala raised $63,600 to help it continue to provide vital services to foster teens and human trafficking victims who want to keep and raise their children in a supportive environment. The fourth annual fundraiser took place Feb. 22 at Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa, and featured a performance by Tino Wallenda of the world-famous tight rope act The Flying Wallendas. NBC-2’s Krista Fogelsong served as Master of Ceremonies for the spectacular evening, which featured dinner, a live auction, music and dancing.
Julie Kuhns was honored as Mother of the Year. Mother of the Year is awarded to a dedicated volunteer who has gone above and beyond to help provide teen moms a safe and loving home where they can learn to love and respect themselves and their children, as well as the resources to become self-sufficient, productive members of society.
Carmelina Gomez-Lucas was named Graduate of the Year to recognize her achievements as a young woman who has successfully completed her journey at Our Mother’s Home and serves as an inspiration to others.
About Our Mother’s Home of Southwest Florida, Inc.
Our Mother’s Home of Southwest Florida is a non-profit organization that aims to break the cycle of foster care and generational poverty by providing teen mothers, ages 12-18, who are in the foster care system or victims of human trafficking and other traumas, with a safe and nurturing home where they can learn to love and care for themselves and their children, while becoming productive members of society. As a privatized 501(c)3 organization, Our Mother’s Home raises 50 – 60% of its own funding to provide teen mothers with a supportive environment to stay with their children, learn life skills, and finish their education through its Mentored Living Program. There are no federal, state or city funding provided for the infants of the teen mothers. They depend heavily on dedicated volunteers and contributions of funds, commodities and services. With over 200 mothers and children being helped over its 13 years of operation, Our Mother’s Home continues to be a model for success in decreasing the rate of children in foster care. For more information, call (239) 267-4663, email info@ourmothershome.com, or visit http://www.ourmothershome.com.
