Union Station Homeless Services Hosts a  Night of Entertainment Benefiting Those in Need

Union Station Homeless Services Hosts a Night of Entertainment Benefiting Those in Need

Pasadena, CA Hundreds of business and community leaders will join Union Station Homeless Services at its annual benefit gala, A PLACE TO CALL HOME on Saturday, May 9, at the Langham Huntington in Pasadena.  The nonprofit’s gala will honor the contributions of Charlie & Rene Chiara and Jim & Tina Hart, long-time supporters and distinguished members of the entertainment industry who have used their talents to benefit the organization.

The evening’s entertainment will include special guest appearances by Melora Hardin (The Office, Transparent), Gildart Jackson (The Young and the Restless, General Hospital), Byron Miller and the Psycho Bass Band, plus one-on-one interviews with the honorees, as well as a formerly homeless individual who found a place to call home through the work of Union Station.

Union Station Homeless Services is a nonprofit agency that helps homeless men, women and children rebuild their lives. As the San Gabriel Valley’s largest homeless service agency, Union Station is part of a premier group of nonprofit agencies in Los Angeles County that are leading the way to ending homelessness in our community.

Charlie & Rene Chiara have been involved in planning numerous events for Union Station for over 15 years. Charlie’s company, Clear Stream Media Group, has produced a number of films for Union Station, and last year, he enlisted his friend and star John C. Reilly to host the 2014 Anniversary Gala.  Rene’s experience with public relations and event planning has made her instrumental in helping Union Station launch its inaugural gala, and she has continued to serve as its co-chair for 5 years.

Jim & Tina Hart have been dedicated supporters of Union Station for 28 years.  Jim is an Emmy award-winning producer (LA Law, Wonder Years, Chicago Hope) and Tina has worked on over 200 television series as a voice-over actress.  Jim has helped Union Station befriend the kindest hearted of Hollywood, including Hector Elizondo, who appears in Union Station’s PSA video and was honored at the 2012 Gala .  Jim also served as co-chair for the Annual Golf Tournament at Brookside and co-chaired Union Station’s very first gala.

To commemorate the unique impact of the two couples, the agency will take a fresh, new approach at its gala. “This year’s event will be staged like a late night talk-show! Like a Hollywood event, guests can walk the red carpet as they enjoy a wine reception and silent auction before the program,” says Marv Gross, Union Station’s CEO.

“Charlie and Rene Chiara, and Jim and Tina Hart have all been enthusiastic Union Station activists and leaders for many years,” Gross says.  “We are thrilled to be able to honor them at our 2015 gala. It will be a great celebration!”

To purchase tickets or to sponsor the event, visit www.unionstationhs.org/event/gala or call Amanda Green at (626) 240-4559. 

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Union Station Homeless Services, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is committed to helping homeless men, women and children rebuild their lives. Union Station Homeless Services is part of a premier group of human services agencies in Los Angeles County that are leading the way to ending homelessness in our community. We are the San Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and families. We believe every person deserves a life of dignity and a safe place to call home. With 41 years of experience, we proudly offer a full continuum of eight programs in seven locations; services include street outreach, intake/assessment, care coordination and navigation, meals, shelter, housing, employment development, benefits enrollment, and referrals to medical and mental health services.

 

“Rocking” event brings together community to help end homelessness (Courier Pasadena City College)

“Rocking” event brings together community to help end homelessness

Organized by Union Station Homeless Services, participants dressed up in rocker gear to race to end homelessness. Families, volunteers and sponsors gathered at Arcadia County Park this past Saturday to participate in the first annual Rockin’ for the Homeless 5K run/ walk.

Union Station’s Young Leaders Society, a group of young professionals who are dedicated to ending homelessness, were the brains behind the event.

“Our Young Leaders Society decided they wanted to organize a fundraising event for our services,” said Marvin Gross, the CEO of Union Station Homeless Services. “We’re very excited about this. We have nearly 300 people signed up today.”

For most participants this was a fun, family friendly event to help out for a good cause. For others, this was an opportunity to help give back to the community.

“The good thing is that we really have a large base of volunteers so everyone’s always willing to come and help,” said Floridel Sotelo, the development and communications associate for the Homeless Services. “We have a great group of sponsors. We have school volunteer groups.”

According to Sotelo, all the proceedings from the event would go to shelter, housing and career development for the homeless.

“If they refer to us, we do the best to help them and give them the right services that they need,” said Sotelo.

Besides the Homeless Services and the Young Leaders Society, there were volunteers from Disney and Pasadena City College’s Alpha Gamma Sigma.

“It’s a small event, not something huge,” said Gustavo Bueno, an AGS member. “We’re going to make sure everyone’s okay.”

The event started when people started to trickle in at 8 a.m. for the check in. Adults of all ages arrived, some decked out in “rocker” clothing, others in more traditional runners gear. Participants in the 5K event could choose to run or walk. Children would participate in a 1K obstacle course after the 5K finished.

Among the runners who participated was Joseph Rene, a sponsor.

“I’ve been a volunteer for 13 years,” said Rene, who was participating in the 5k as the lead runner and cheerleader.

Equipped with a megaphone, Rene exuded boundless energy. He constantly herded participants to the sign-in booth and made sure that everyone was as excited for the event as he was.

“I don’t think there’s any reason people should be homeless and hungry,” said Rene. “Especially children that really don’t have a choice in the matter.”

Although currently a successful hairstylist who runs his own salon, Rene said that he empathizes greatly with the homeless community and hopes to make a difference by volunteering and donating to events such as the 5K run/walk.

“I grew up as a ward of the Los Angeles county system myself,” said Rene. “I wasn’t homeless, but I was near to being homeless.”

With Rene as their guide, runners lined up at the starting line and began their 5K run at 8:30 a.m. Some were serious as they raced to be first, but for everyone who was running there were groups of people walking while laughing and smiling as they encouraged one another to finish the race strong.

The band Head Light View played rock music to keep the crowd energized as groups of volunteers and supportive family and friends waited for the runners to cross the finish line.

“I work for Disney so we’re part of the Disney volunteers,” said Omar Cabral, one of the singers for the band. “They really encourage us to get out into the community and help out.”

Along with music, food trucks were also available for those that wanted something to snack on. Kona Ice and Pie ‘n Burger showed up to help support the event.

With the last of the participants crossing the finish line at 9:20 a.m., it was time for the 1K Kiddie Dash. Complete with several fun obstacles, the event was a treat for kids.

“It was fun,” said Ella Beltzer, a participant in the 1K. “I think this is really nice. It was for a really great cause.”

Although this was Union Station Homeless Services first time hosting this event, Gross said he wouldn’t mind doing it again.

“It seems that the community is really interested in supporting this. If everything does well today we might do it again next year and maybe the year after that.”

Union Station 5K Runs for a Cause (Outlook Newspapers)

Union Station 5K Runs for a Cause (Outlook Newspapers)

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Each Sunday, one of Union Station Homeless Services’ most dedicated volunteers makes his way over to the organization’s Adult Center to serve food to the homeless. From his wheelchair, a grinning Keith Du Bois spends hours passing out food to the hungry and encouragement to the most desperate.

When the work is done, Du Bois, 51, heads to the place he’s called home for two decades: Centennial Place, a Union Station low-income housing facility for formerly chronically homeless adults, where he hosts a weekly breakfast mixer for his neighbors. Du Bois is a Union Station volunteer, event organizer and client.

Union Station volunteer and client Keith Du Bois will participate in the organization’s 5K race on March 21.

 

Union Station volunteer and client Keith Du Bois will participate in the organization’s 5K race on March 21.

Du Bois aims to transition into another role on Saturday, March 21: race finisher at Union Station’s inaugural “Rockin’ for the Homeless” charity 5K Run/Walk at Arcadia County Park. Registration is open online for the public event, which includes a 1K walk for children and families, plus food and music. Proceeds from the event will support Union Station, the San Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency that helps the homeless rebuild their lives.

Du Bois, who has cerebral palsy, laughed as he said he plans to max out the speedometer on his motorized wheelchair on the course.

“Keith is an outstanding example of so many folks we know and work with whose fortitude, courage and positive attitude lead them to become productive and successful members for the community,” said Union Station CEO Marv Gross, who will attend the 5K dressed as a rock star.

In the old YMCA building — which is now the 142-room Centennial Place — Du Bois’ positive attitude is on display every Friday at 10 a.m. That’s when Centennial Cafe, Du Bois’ brainchild of a coffee-and-doughnuts mixer for his neighbors, opens up. As residents gather in the old YMCA gymnasium to sit and chat, Du Bois’ creation is proof of the potential of homeless people if they’re given support.

“This provides us with a sense of community,” said Du Bois, who said he’s never considered himself to be homeless, in part because of Centennial Place’s support. “It feels inspiring to be part of something that’s bigger than yourself. All of us are a part of each other.”

Du Bois knows inspiration; he’s a living, breathing example of it. Subsisting on meals bought with food stamps while being raised by his grandmother in South Central Los Angeles, he was stricken with meningitis at age 3. The illness caused inflammation to his brain and spinal cord membranes, cutting off oxygen to his brain. The trauma resulted in cerebral palsy, a disorder that limits movement permanently and, in some cases, can negatively affect cognitive and speech functions.

But the brain disorder was only the beginning of a series of battles for Du Bois, who is African American. He said he faced discrimination — not only for being black, but also for not being “black enough,” depending on his surroundings. While studying at Asuza Pacific University, he said his roommates kicked him out of their apartment after discovering he was gay. According to Du Bois, he was also once fired him from a part-time job because of his sexual orientation.

Over time, Du Bois said, depression began to set in. After couch-surfing for a short while in 1995, a despondent Du Bois — with nowhere else to turn — found himself at Centennial Place. Because he felt shunned by society, he said, anger welled up in him, and he didn’t speak to his neighbors for five years.

But time began to heal some of the emotional wounds caused by his physical condition and discrimination. One night, Du Bois said he dreamed about having coffee with his neighbors. He pitched the idea to the then-director of Centennial Place three years ago, and Centennial Cafe has been a weekly happening ever since.

“For me, I’m not where I want to be in life. But I am where I am, so I have to make the best of it,” said Du Bois. “If I can’t be happy here, I’ll never be happy anywhere, whether it’s [at Centennial Place] or Beverly Hills. I have learned to be happy.”

Du Bois said part of that learning process can be credited to Union Station’s guidance ever since the organization took over Centennial Place five years ago. Case managers and staff have repeatedly tested his limits with a simple, motivating question: “Can you do that for yourself?”

The encouragement has led him to push his perceived limitations. The upcoming 5K charity fundraiser is one example. Du Bois has never completed a 5K but anticipates being inspired by the outpouring of community support at the event.


Union Station’s “Rockin’ for the Homeless” 5K course will wind through Arcadia County Park, which is adjacent to Santa Anita Park.

The 5K is being coordinated by Union Station’s Young Leaders Society, a volunteer group of Pasadena-area professionals committed to carrying out the nonprofit organization’s mission.

“Union Station was founded by volunteers, [and] for the past 42 years volunteers have been the mainstays of our efforts,” said Gross. “We simply could not serve the homeless as we do today without our dedicated volunteers. Their heartfelt generosity and contributions of time, energy and talent are absolutely invaluable.”

Union Station’s volunteers and staff have done more than provide Du Bois with a safe place to stay; he said that over the
long term, living at Centennial Place has made him reconsider what the idea of “home” truly means.

“I’m very happy,” he said. “Do I want a two-bedroom house with my own kitchen and my own backyard? Yes, I do. But am I content with what I have here? Absolutely.

“I think I can’t ever be happy with a house if I can’t be content with where I am now.”

What: 5K Run/Walk, 1K Kiddie Dash

When: Saturday, March 21, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Check-in begins at 7 a.m., opening ceremonies are at 8:15 and the runners take off at 8:30 a.m

Where: Arcadia County Park
(405 S. Santa Anita Ave.)

Cost: $40 for the 5K, $15 for the 1K Kiddie Dash

Additional details: Dress as your favorite rock star. During the closing ceremony, the “most rockin’” participant will be awarded with a prize. All participants will receive a T-shirt and medal. Local band Head Lite View will play, and a food truck will also be present. Event sponsorships are still available.

Proceeds will benefit Union Station Homeless Services.

For more information about the 5K, email rockin5k@unionstationhs.org.
To register, visit unionstationhs.org/event/rockin5k

Top 10 things to do this weekend in the San Gabriel Valley (San Gabriel Valley Tribune)

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