The Corporate Air Hangar was awash in Americana last Saturday evening as supporters of the Children’s Home Society gathered at a patriotic Reach for the Stars Dinner Party, hoping to raise funds to enable abused and neglected youngsters to achieve their ambitions. The festive event featured as its honorary chair Master Chief SEAL (Ret.) Richard “Rick” Kaiser, who now serves as executive director of the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum.
The hangar, owned by CHS Treasure Coast Advisory Board Chairman Rodger Pridgeon, was decked out in a sea-to-shining-sea décor, and during the cocktail hour many guests took advantage of photo ops with the vintage aircraft parked just outside. They also took time before dinner to peruse the silent- and live-auction items, and purchased what they hoped would be the winning key to open the fully-stocked liquor cabinet.
“This year’s theme maintains a little bit of a patriotic stance,” said event chair Kelly Donovan, owner of the evening’s presenting sponsor, White Orchid Spa. “Rick Kaiser is incredibly special. He was in SEAL Team 2 and he was the brains behind the rescue of Black Hawk Down.”
For his part, Kaiser said he is impressed with the children assisted by CHS programs and services.
“The kids and the young adults they support are very resilient; they’re a lot like the SEALs in that way. It’s not the most physically fit or athletic SEALs that make it; it’s the ones with the mental toughness and resiliency,” said Kaiser.
“These kids’ lives have been so challenged. Stuff I took for granted when I was growing up, they do without.”
After learning that at least one of the young people attending the event that evening will be going into the Air Force, he said that he hoped others would apply to serve, even as SEALs.
“Mental toughness is the one thing they [recruiters] can’t measure,” he added, noting a high dropout rate among prospective SEALs due to the mental strength required. “These kids are awesome; they’ve had a tough row to hoe and they keep going with the help they’re getting. Hopefully they’ll all succeed.”
“Last year Children’s Home Society touched the lives of over 11,000 children and young adults on the Treasure Coast,” said Sabrina Sampson, executive director of CHS Treasure Coast. “Since July 1, 2016, our adoptions team has helped 110 children unite with their forever family; 25 of those children were from Indian River County.”
She related that one reason she remains committed is that her own family background is not terribly different from that of the children they serve.
“I have felt firsthand the difference love, encouragement and support makes in the life of a human being,” said Sampson. “I get to make the choice to stand where my feet have been planted, partner with generous donors such as each of you, and collaborate with my team and our great community as to how we will impact the next generation.”
Before a Have a Heart appeal, guests also heard from a young woman, currently a resident of the Youth Transition Center, who shared how her life has been positively impacted by the generosity of CHS supporters.
