OUR LAGUNA: Funding work skills for the homeless

Well-heeled Friendship Shelter supporters gave a boost Friday to the launch of a new program to help the less fortunate.

A $250-per-person dinner at [seven-degrees] was the launch pad for “Project Ready,” a program to upgrade the job skills of the residents of the shelter’s transitional living facility named for the Rev. Colin Henderson. Executive Director Carol Rhoads obtained a grant to fund the program, but the money won’t be available until mid-2008 — not soon enough for her or for Henderson, who founded the shelter.

“The grant starts next July, but she said we have to find a way to start in January,” said Henderson, the guest of honor at the dinner.

He got the ball rolling with a $50,000 donation in the name of his late wife, Ellin.

“Friendship Shelter meant a lot to Ellin and now that I am on my own, I wanted to do something in her name,” Henderson said.

For the past 19 years, the shelter has meant a home and hope to the homeless and hopeless, the fruition of Henderson’s vision and the support of those who believed in his cause.

Dubbed the “mothers and fathers” of the shelter, the early supporters included The Rev. Robert Cornelison, Barbara Clippinger, David Peck, former City Clerk Verna Rollinger, Joan Silverman, Janet Smith, Phyllis Sweeney, Bob Ward, Ray Wasserman and the late Phil May and Alice Graves, as well as Ellin.

Smith has been a supporter since the homeless spent their nights at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and their days at the church’s job center.

“I have never forgotten the first time Colin took me to the church and I saw people sleeping in the pews,” Smith said.

When public pressure began to mount to shut down the program at the church, May brought together what he called the “real Laguna” to acquire a building to shelter homeless adults seeking to regain self-sufficiency to become productive members of the community.

Rollinger was not convinced that funds could be found to buy a building.

“Bob Cornelison said you have to make a leap of faith and I said, ‘No, I don’t,’” Rollinger said.

But the shelter made great strides with her support.

Graves’ name is almost synonymous with help for the homeless. She started cooking meals for the homeless at St. Mary’s; was instrumental in organizing the cold weather shelters, served as the third chairwoman of Friendship Shelter and inspired the transitional living concept for graduates of the 60-day program at the shelter.

Peck was the fourth shelter chairman, the one to sign, seal and deliver the transitional apartment building in San Clemente.

Silverman also recruited Clippinger, who brought a wealth of experience gained at the Women’s Transitional Learning Center. She was the creator of the original “non-events,” for which the clever annual invitations said, just send money and, with Kathleen Abel, originated the “Dinners Across Laguna.”

Abel, always a trouper even with a broken back, and Jill Edwards, chaired Friday’s dinner.

The event began with a champagne reception, at which Rhoads thanked the chairs, the shelter’s supporters and Henderson for all that has been done to make the shelter a success.

Rhoads has been the executive director for just over a year.

“It has been an exhilarating year,” she said.

Bob Mister served as auctioneer for the art works donated for the live auction by Ken Auster, Jerome Gastaldi, Dennis Hare, Carolyn Reynolds, Jeff Sewell and Marton Varo.

Gregg Abel’s original work for the event invitations was among the works donated for the silent auction. Other donations included pieces by Jacobus Bass, Jacques Garnier, G.Ray Kerciu, Tom Lamb, Scott Moore, Peter Paul Ott, Karen Petty, Eve Plumb, Pat Sparkuhl and Sean Tiner.

Beth and Steve Wood of the locally revered Honk band and Jasso & Garcia entertained.

Early arrivals included shelter board president and event sponsor, Ilene Glassman; her guest, Catherine Hileman; board member Barbara Van Alstine, Ellin Henderson’s cousin; and National Charity League provisional Katy Hosea, and her mother, Crisi, who volunteered to greet guests.

The city was represented by Mayor Toni Iseman and Councilwoman Elizabeth Schneider.

Also on the guest list: former Mayor Sally Bellerue, Leslie and college President Dennis Power, Charlie and Ann Quilter, Joe Hanauer, John Barth, Judy and Doug Anderson, architect Marshall Innins, Becky and Joie Jones, Dorothy and Don Bendetti, Jim Sweeney, Karen and Ed Kaufman, Ketta and Jeb Brown, Sue Freeman and John Hancock, Shary Seltzer, Paulo and Richard Bisson, Greg and Barbara MacGillivray and Carol Gamble.

Sponsors of the event included [seven-degrees], Hearts of Montage, Surterre Properties, Capital Group Cos., Laguna Financial Services, MacGillivray-Freeman Films, Related California, South County Bank, Susan and Steve Contursi, Laing Luxury Homes, Wave Wealth Management, Wayne and Louise Wright, IndyMac Bank, Ganahl Lumber, Deborah and Jeffrey King, Lender’s One, Janet and James “Alkie” Ray, Realatrends, Rutan and Tucker LLP, George Western and Binnie Beaumont, Dave Sanford and Steve Dotoratos of Super Dave’s Print and Mail Inc. and Al Roberts and Ken Jillson.

“We have donated to the shelter on and off for a lot of years,” Roberts said. “I know some of the organizers and I know they are on the up and up — you want to make sure your hard-earned money does good.”

Time is also a welcome donation. This year, more than 250 volunteers will contribute 10,000 hours of service to the shelter. For more information about the shelter and volunteer opportunities, visit website www.friendshipshelter.org or call (949) 494-6928.

OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652; hand-deliver to Suite 22 in the Lumberyard, 384 Forest Ave.; call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 494-8979.