Pasadena, CA – For its 16th annual An Evening for the Station, Union Station Homeless Services is hosting an incredible comedy night to demonstrate that Homelessness is No Laughing Matter!
An Evening for the Station: Homelessness is No Laughing Matter will be held at ArcLight Cinemas, Pasadena, Thursday, October 15 at 6:30 pm. The event, which will be attended by over 400 community, business and civic leaders, will feature a hilarious line-up with top comedic talent from HBO, Showtime, Comedy Central, and more!
All funds raised will benefit Union Station Homeless Services, the San Gabriel Valley’s largest and most comprehensive social service agency assisting homeless adults and families.
Featured Comedians:
Jonah and Kumail(Comedy Central’s The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail): Based on the popular live show, The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail features comedy icons and up-and-comers performing in the back of a comic book shop. Jonah Ray is an actor, writer and comedian also known for being one of the co-hosts of The Nerdist Podcast and television show. Kumail Nanjiani has guest-starred in various comedy shows like Portlandia, and more recently is a regular on HBO’s Silicon Valley.
Matt Braunger(MADtv, Live at Gotham): Matt was recently a series regular on MADtv, his television credits also include The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Live at Gotham. Matt has performed at a variety of prestigious comedy festivals and was recently featured in Variety’s “10 Comics to Watch.”
Matt Peters(Showtime’s WEEDS, Netflix’s Orange is the New Black): Matt has been seen on Showtime’s WEEDS, G4TV’s Attack of the Show, and most notably, he has a recurring role on the Primetime Emmy Award-nominated Netflix series, Orange is the New Black. Additionally, he hosts the popular bi-weekly comedy show, BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! that takes place at the infamous R Bar in Los Angeles.
Ron Funches(TBS’s Conan, NBC’s Undateable): Ron has a recurring role on Disney’s Crash and Bernstein, Comedy Central’s Kroll Show and a starring role in NBC’s Undateable. He performs stand up all over the United States impressing audiences everywhere. Most recently, Ron was named one of the “Best New Comedians” by Esquire Magazine.
Nikki Glaser(Comedy Central’s @Midnight, MTV’s Nikki & Sara LIVE): Nikki is a comedian, writer, and host whose television appearances have included The Tonight Show, CONAN, and Last Comic Standing. She was the co-host of the MTV late night talk show, Nikki & Sara LIVE. Nikki can currently be seen as a regular contestant on Comedy Central’s @Midnight and will guest star on the upcoming season of Inside Amy Schumer.
Cameron Esposito(Put Your Hands Together, Chelsea Lately): Cameron is a fast rising Los Angeles-based standup comic, actor and writer who has been called “the future of comedy” by none other than Jay Leno. Cameron hosts Put Your Hands Together, has a biweekly column on The AV Club, and has appeared on Late Late with Craig Ferguson, @Midnight, CONAN, and as a regular on Chelsea Lately and TakePartLive among others.
Baron Vaughn(NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Netflix’s Grace and Frankie): Baron is a comedian who has performed on Conan, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and has had numerous appearances on Comedy Central, most recently in the form of his own “Half Hour” comedy special. Baron has performed in comedy festivals nationwide, TV shows and films and was a series regular on USA’s Fairly Legal (2010-2012). Catch him on the upcoming Netflix Original Series Grace and Frankie starting in May 2015.
Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at www.unionstationhs.org or (626) 250-4559. Event sponsorship begins at $500. To become an event or publicity sponsor, call (626) 240-4558.
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ABOUT UNION STATION HOMELESS SERVICES
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. Headquartered in Pasadena, 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 over 40 years of experience, we proudly offer a full continuum of nine programs throughout the San Gabriel Valley; 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.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2015 Sunday Funday! – Fallen Fruit’s Public Fruit Jam Returning to the One Colorado Courtyard
Sunday, August 16, 11am – 2pm
This fruit-filled event is supported in part by Whole Foods Market
A portion of the day’s jam will be donated to the Union Station Homeless Services Family Center
One Colorado Courtyard – 41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena CA 626.564.1066 Media contact: A. McLean Emenegger / mclean@onecolorado.com / 626.564.1066 x16
OLD PASADENA, CA: Fallen Fruit’s Public Fruit Jam Sunday, August 16, 11am to 2pm
Join us for a fun and friendly day of making jam and new pals! Fallen Fruit’s Public Fruit Jam is a wonderful social and community-building event that’s perfect for kids, adults, families and even first dates.
Folks are invited to drop by the courtyard anytime between 11am – 2pm for the Fruit Jam. Everyone is invited to contribute home-grown or picked public fruit to the cause.
Selecting fruit goodies from the communal fruit table, guests will join Jam Teams of 3 to 5 people. (New friends!) Your team’s jam ingredients can be anything you bring along or score at the fruit table. Fallen Fruit encourages experimental jams, such as basil guava or lemon pepper jelly. You can even add a kick of jalapeno or bite with some fresh ginger. Almost all fruits can be jammed, even bananas – if you dare!
Each jam session runs approximately 45 minutes from cutting to preserving. Fallen Fruit staffers will be on hand to help out. In the end, you will have jam to keep, swap and contribute to the tasting table where you can savor the fruits of your labors. And who knows – you may also leave with a new BFF or adorable meet-cute story!
A portion of the jam produced at this event (+ bread and peanut butter) will be donated to the Union Station Homeless Services Family Center.
We are grateful to Whole Foods Market and their locations in Pasadena on Arroyo Parkway and Foothill Boulevard for helping support this event.
About Fallen Fruit:
Fallen Fruit invite you to experience your City as a fruitful place, to collectively re-imagine the function of public participation and urban space, and to explore the meaning of community through creating and sharing new and abundant resources. Fruit Trees! Share your fruit! Change the world!
Fallen Fruit is an art collaboration originally conceived in 2004 by David Burns, Matias Viegener and Austin Young. Since 2013, David and Austin have continued the collaborative work. Fallen Fruit began by mapping fruit trees growing on or over public property in Los Angeles. The collaboration has expanded to include serialized public projects and site-specific installations and happenings in various cities around the world. More information at fallenfruit.org.
About One Colorado:
One Colorado is a collection of 17 historic buildings housing a curated mix of nationally acclaimed retailers and designers, unique local merchants, inventive restaurants and a boutique cinema. A full city block located between Colorado, Union, Delacey and Fair Oaks, One Colorado is the retail centerpiece of Old Pasadena and favorite casual gathering place for the greater community, with public events hosted year-round in its central courtyard.
Pasadena, CA – On Saturday, May 9 Hollywood came to Pasadena as Union Station Homeless Services took a new spin on its annual A PLACE TO CALL HOME benefit gala. The nonprofit hosted a “Tonight Show” themed evening of entertainment, comedy, music, and fun for all with a great cause.
Master of Ceremonies Gildart Jackson (The Young and the Restless, General Hospital), played the late-night talk show host for the night’s program, with actor and producer Blake Adams Bailey as the show’s announcer. One-on-one interviews were conducted with the honorees, as well as a formerly homeless individual who found a place to call home through the work of Union Station. The evening’s entertainment included musical guest Melora Hardin (The Office, Transparent), who performed an original song with Byron Miller and the Psycho Bass Band, the official house band for the night.
Over 400 guests, businesses and community leaders walked the red carpet at the Langham Huntington in Pasadena while posing for photos and enjoying a wine reception, hosted by Rob and Leslie Levy (owners of The Raymond), as they bid on silent auction items. Congresswoman Judy Chu and representatives from the office of Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich were among the many supporters attending this year’s gala. The event honored 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.
“We were thrilled with the turnout for this event as we honored the Harts and Chiaras”, says Marv Gross, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services. “It was our most successful ever. Gildart Jackson, Melora Hardin, Blake Bailey and the Psycho Bass Band were exceptional in adding so much entertainment and fun to a great evening.”
Over $460,000 was raised to continue the programs provided by Union Station Homeless Services to help homeless men, women and children rebuild their lives and end homelessness in the community. 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 region.
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 over 40 years of experience, we proudly offer a full continuum of seven 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.
Pasadena, CA – Hundreds of business and community leaders will join Union Station Homeless Services at its annual benefit gala, A PLACE TO CALL HOMEon 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!”
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.
Pasadena, Calif. – National Community Renaissance, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit developers of affordable housing, will break ground April 14 on the Mar Vista Apartments, 20 units of high-quality housing for homeless families.
Mar Vista features 10 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom units, designed in a Mediterranean style around a central recreational courtyard.
“This is the latest example of National CORE’s commitment to transforming lives and communities,” said Steve PonTell, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Rancho Cucamonga-based nonprofit developer. “Pasadena is an extraordinary community, but here – as in every community – providing quality housing for homeless families and individuals is a major challenge. We’re proud to be part of the solution.”
Located at 131 North Mar Vista Avenue, the Mar Vista Apartments include a community garden, tot lot and community room with a computer lab. Other features include drought-tolerant landscaping, energy-efficient appliances and enclosed bicycle storage to promote active transportation.
Mar Vista is another example of the active steps Pasadena has taken to help individuals and families transition from homelessness. According to the City of Pasadena 2014 Homeless Count and Subpopulation Survey, the City has seen a 45 percent decrease in the number of homeless adults and children during the past three years.
Working with the Pasadena Housing and Homeless Network, the City has implemented programs to move homeless persons into housing and provide wrap-around services to ensure housing stability.
“The City of Pasadena is focused on permanent solutions for homelessness,” said William Huang, the City’s Director of Housing and Career Services. “Mar Vista Apartments is permanent supportive housing, that is, a place where the family can live for as long as they need affordable housing, and where they can receive all the services they need to address the root causes of their homeless condition. Mar Vista Apartments will stabilize and transform lives, give hope, and end homelessness one family at a time.”
Joining the City and National CORE on the Mar Vista project is Union Station Homeless Services, who will help identify and provide services to residents.
GROUND BREAKING FOR MAR VISTA APARTMENTS: WHEN: 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 14, 2015 WHERE: 143 North Mar Vista Avenue, Pasadena
About National CORE, Hope through Housing
National Community Renaissance, based in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit developers of affordable housing. CORE manages nearly 9,000 affordable, senior and market-rate units in California, Arkansas, Texas and Florida. Hope through Housing was founded by National CORE in 1998 to provide life-changing social services to residents and communities. For more information on CORE and Hope through Housing, please visit www.nationalcore.org.
