SARASOTA, Fla. — Family Promise of Sarasota is hosting Just Desserts, its premier annual fundraiser, on April 8 at Payne Park Auditorium in Sarasota.
The organization has worked to end homelessness in the Sarasota area since 2007 by providing temporary housing for families with children.
Attorney Tyler A. Hayden, from the full-service business law firm Shumaker, Loop and Kendrick, LLP, serves on the Family Promise of Sarasota board and is on the subcommittee planning Just Desserts.
This year marks the eighth year Family Promise of Sarasota has organized Just Desserts. The theme for the event this year is “Celebrate Me Home,” and will feature dozen of desserts, entertainment from the Al Hixon Jazz Ensemble and a silent and live auction. Three graduate families will speak about how Family Promise impacted their lives, and a celebrity team will judge the desserts and announce winners at the end of the evening.
“Just Desserts is a great way to give back to an organization that’s almost totally run on volunteer hours and donations,” Hayden said. “Our purpose is not just to curb homelessness temporarily, but permanently. During the 90 days families stay with us, they save money, find their own housing and get new jobs. We have an 80 percent success rate for families to get into permanent housing after they leave our facilities.”
During their three months with Family Promise, families stay at churches, synagogues and at a home the organization rents. Soon Family Promise hopes to purchase a home in downtown Sarasota for families to use. A volunteer stays with the family each night, cooking them dinner, making sure kids get to school in the morning and providing any additional help.
Proceeds from Just Desserts will go to Family Promise’s general operating expenses. Individual tickets are $50 and a VIP table for eight is $600. Tickets can be purchased at www.FamilyPromiseSarasota.org or by calling 941-952-1800.
About Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP
Founded in 1925, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP is a full-service law firm with more than 245 lawyers and five offices in Toledo and Columbus, Ohio; Tampa and Sarasota, Fla.; and Charlotte, N.C. Shumaker is a premier provider of quality legal services. Whether it's commitment to clients or work in the community, involvement lies at the core of all of Shumaker’s initiatives.
About Family Promise of Sarasota
Family Promise enables the community to work together to address the needs of homeless families in Sarasota. Family Promise of Sarasota helps families with minor children who have lost their housing, assisting up to three families at a time for up to 90 days. Family Promise provides shelter, meals, basic needs, case management, referrals and resources. All adults meet with an employment consultant and a financial counselor. It also provides a support system – volunteers help the families each day. Family Promise partners with inter-faith congregations in our community that provide facilities, volunteers and financial support.