On Saturday May 10, Union Station Homeless Services will honor Russell Ferrante & Gerry Puhara, along with the late Sid & Betsey Tyler at the 6th annual A Place to Call Home Soirée for their extraordinary commitment to supporting the organization’s work.

The event, a benefit fundraiser that takes place at the Langham Huntington in Pasadena, begins at 5:30 p.m. with a reception and silent auction, followed by dinner. Actor/Musician John C. Reilly will emcee the event.

“We are thrilled to honor four wonderful Union Station advocates and activists at our gala this year,” says Union Station CEO Marvin Gross. “Russ and Gerry pioneered our long-running and very successful benefit concert series. A veteran Union Station volunteer, Betsey effectively served on our Board of Directors and chaired our Program Committee. Sid is a long-time supporter who championed our work as a member of the City Council. We would not be where we are today as an agency without the support, talents, and ongoing efforts of these outstanding couples.”

Since moving from Philadelphia in 1969, Sid and Betsey Tyler have shown extraordinary leadership as vibrant members of the Pasadena Community. After a career in marketing and management, Sid joined the Pasadena City Council in 1997 and became Vice Mayor in 2005. He has served his community as a trustee/board member of CHAP Clinics, Eastern Sierra Land Trust, Pacific Asia Museum, and Pasadena Community Foundation. Betsey served as a Union Station Board Member, as well chair of our Program Committee. In addition, she has provided volunteer leadership at Huntington Hospital, Huntington Library, Ombudsman, Southwest Chamber Music, and Pasadena Beautiful. They have supported Union Station since 1986. They have a shared passion for the outdoors, travel and watching their eight grandchildren grow up.

Russ Ferrante and Gerry Puhara are a creative force to be reckoned with. Russ Ferrante is a founding member and keyboardist of the Grammy Award Winning band, Yellowjackets. He has worked with Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, Joni Mitchell, Diane Reeves and many more. He also works as an adjunct professor of Jazz Studies at USC, Azusa Pacific, and Musicians Institute. Gerry enjoyed a lucrative career as a costumer/stylist on Annie, La Verne and Shirley, and Fantasy Island, and more. She is now the owner of Tender Treasures, a successful clothing store for women. In addition to serving as a Union Station Board member and chair of our Personnel Committee, Gerry has provided volunteer leadership for the La Canada PTA, Children’s Music Workshop, La Canada Childcare Roundtable, Assistance League of Flintridge, Episcopal Communities and Services, and All Saints Church. Gerry and Russ founded An Evening for the Station, an annual jazz fundraiser benefitting Union Station.

Event sponsors include Bank of the West, Capital Group Charitable Foundation, and many other generous community businesses and individuals. To sponsor the event, purchase tickets or an ad in our tribute book, or to see a full list of sponsors, visit https://unionstationhs.org/event/a-place-to-call-home-gala/

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