Women’s Home throws triumphant inaugural luncheon
The Women’s Home opened its doors in 1957 with a mission to provide housing, tailored support services and end homelessness. The nonprofit inaugurated a new tradition last month, the Triumph Luncheon, at the Royal Sonesta Houston hotel. A crowd of 520 attended, more than the organization has ever hosted during a single fundraiser.
“We’re committed to helping women transition from homelessness to independence,” said executive director Paula
Paust, who is retiring after 25 years.
Chairs Donae Chromosta, Kristen McDaniel, Karen Kash Redden and Jo Reid said the WholeLife program strives to provide recovery and personal growth by addressing six areas of wellness: emotional, financial, physical, social, spiritual and vocational. Then Kenneth Gayle sang his heart out before honorees Jacqueline L. Phillips, Ashley Brown Ruiz and Diane Riley were recognized for their commitment to the cause.
“I was going to say ‘no,’ but then I thought, ‘How many times are you offered a lifetime achievement award?’ ” Riley said. As her husband, John Riley, had predicted, the lifelong volunteer shared one humorous anecdote after another. “What are they gonna do?” she asked before her final story. “I’m an honoree.”
The mood shifted when New York Times best-selling author Amanda Lindhout followed with her epic tale of survival and perseverance. The freelance journalist spent 460 days in captivity after being kidnapped and held hostage by a dozen Somalian teenagers in 2008.
“Before I begin, let’s set an intention,” Lindhout said. “It’s my hope that everyone leaves feeling reminded of the strength and grace of the human spirit.”
Born in Alberta, Canada, to a single mother, she and her two brothers grew up in the basement of a home plagued with physical abuse and alcoholism. Lindhout recalled reading National Geographic magazine to escape her unstable environment. She set a goal to see the world. As an adult, she took journalism classes and saved up to buy a camera. She moved to Afghanistan and then Iraq before accepting a weeklong assignment in Somalia, where she and Australian photojournalist
Nigel Brennan were kidnapped.
Their captors initially demanded a $1.5 million ransom from each of their families. The sum was eventually paid, though Lindhout endured sexual abuse and torture during her captivity.
“I finally understood that hurt people hurt people,” she said. “Daily, I would recite mantras of choosing peace, freedom and forgiveness.”
Suffering often causes us to wake up, she said.
Four months after her release in November 2009, Lindhout founded the Global Enrichment Foundation to inspire leadership in Somalia through education and economic initiatives. The organization has since raised $3 million.
Her memoir, “A House in the Sky,” co-written by Sara Corbett, was optioned in 2014 for a screen adaption; Rooney
Mara has been confirmed to play Lindhout.
Luncheongoers queued up to have copies of her book signed. The Women’s Home’s triumphant first luncheon raised more than $330,000.
In the crowd: Lucinda Loya, Ericka Bagwell, Tracy Faulkner, Lindley Arnoldy, Divya Brown and Carrie Colbert.