Pacific House raises $345K to help homeless community

STAMFORD — The nonprofit Pacific House raised $345,000 at its 20th annual celebration cocktail hour to support its services to help the homeless community in Fairfield County.

“We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported Pacific House,” said Rafael Pagan Jr., executive director of Pacific House. “The funds raised will help to provide food and shelter, as well as case management services, recovery programming, employment training and housing. Together, these services help homeless individuals on their journey toward independence.”

The event, held Oct. 21 in-person and live-streamed from the Residence Inn by Marriott Stamford Downtown, was emceed by board Chair Chris Tate and honored some of the nonprofit’s most enthusiastic donors.

Robert Morris, founder and managing partner at Olympus Partners, was honored with the Leadership Award for his longtime support and work last year in helping Pacific House during the COVID-19 pandemic. Morris and his firm assisted the organization in moving its clients from the emergency shelter to two area hotels to keep them safe at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sam Cingari and the Cingari Family of Grade A-ShopRite were honored with the Constant Contributor Award for more than 25 years of support of Pacific House. Over the years, Grade A-ShopRite has hired shelter clients, and during the pandemic, it provided meals for Pacific House clients.

The Community Health Center of Stamford was honored with the Safety Award for administering COVID-19 vaccinations to Pacific House’s shelter clients and staff and to residents of Pacific House supportive housing. In addition, Community Health Center checked up on clients throughout the COVID-19 crisis and provided health education.

Pacific House honored New Covenant Center/Catholic Charities of Fairfield County with the President’s Circle Award for donating more than 30,000 meals to ensure that clients had three meals a day throughout the pandemic.

The First Congregational Church of Greenwich, which has supported Pacific House for more than 26 years, was honored with a Making A Difference Award for its work in supporting the “Baskets of Hope’ initiative. The program provides essential items for the kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms to welcome formerly homeless individuals to their new homes.

Pacific House operates an emergency shelter for men and young adults and 14 permanent residences that provide housing for 140 formerly homeless individuals and families. During the pandemic, the organization relocated emergency shelter clients to two area hotels to maintain social distancing protocols.

Pacific House, formerly known as the Shelter for the Homeless, is the only regional shelter for homeless men and young adults serving all of Fairfield County, with locations in Stamford, Norwalk and Danbury. For more than 36 years, Pacific House has been serving the community by providing food, temporary shelter, an array of support services and housing to homeless men and young adults.

Among the sponsors at the Oct. 21 event were The Vranos Family Foundation, title sponsor; platinum sponsors Alice Melly, Chris and Lauren Tate and the Rogers Family Foundation; gold sponsors Bob Phillips, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury, First County Bank, Justin and Marie Maccarone, Bob and Jinny Rimmer, Rob and Holly Lockhart, Stamford Health, Jim Duffy, Joan Weisman and Webster Bank; silver sponsors Community Health Center Inc., Eileen and Tom Hynes, Finn Family Foundation, Sarita and Gregory Hanley, Boni Construction, Frank Corvino and Nielsen Florist & Garden Center.