Susanne and Doug Sweeny. PHOTO BY MARY SCHENKEL

Grand Harbor residents and friends filled the Golf Club to share their good fortune with others during the Grand Harbor Community Outreach Program’s annual Gala Dinner. The event, co-chaired this year by Mark and Barbara Rice, is one of the nonprofit’s three major fundraisers, along with their Evening of Giving and the Golf Classic.

As guests sipped on assorted cocktails and martinis poured from a glistening ice luge, they bid on assorted auction items before heading into the dining room to enjoy a delicious dinner.

Mark Rice explained a major part of the evening is their signature Angel Auction, their version of a call to the heart, which is a major part of their annual appeal, all of which helps to fund grants to the charities they support.

“Last year we funded 31 charities for $486,000. This year it will be 34 and we’re hoping for somewhere around $520,000,” said Rice, explaining that their grants go toward specific programs.

“Every one of our charities has been vetted and visited by a financial analyst. There were site visits done and reports written, and then there are recommendations given on the individual grants.”

During the evening’s festivities, Doug and Susanne Sweeny were given special recognition as Community Outreach Honorees for their 20 years of service to GHCOP. Among their many contributions, each served terms as president, and they have co-chaired the annual Evening of Giving, the annual fund and several galas. This year, the pair led the Angel Auction, and spoke about the many ways GHCOP is improving the lives of others in the community.

Susanne Sweeny pointed out that the slides they were showing had been created by teens at the Hibiscus Village, who are learning graphic design skills through a Career Pathways program that Outreach sponsors.

“This fully complements our ‘hands up’ philosophy as we help soon-to-be young adults develop job skills,” she noted.

Citing various statistics, Doug Sweeny said GHCOP has focused its funding on four critical areas: Homelessness (925 individuals – 736 adults and 189 children), veterans in need (with some 6,000 in or close to poverty, 4,000 disabled and 30 homeless), mental health (a particularly growing challenge among youths) and at-risk children (they support 12 agencies).

Sweeny said they have adopted the thinking of Harvard professor and author Arthur Brooks, who spoke to them early on about a lasting solution to poverty here and worldwide.

“Arthur presented a Venn Diagram that explained that family structure, education and job/career skills all work in combination to either advantage or disadvantage a child and family,” Sweeny explained, noting that a child’s chances of success rise dramatically when they are encouraged to get an education, which leads to enhanced skills and lucrative jobs.

“And Professor Brooks said something profound: ‘We need to close both the economic and dignity gaps,’” said Sweeny.

“Those of you who work with the Source and support Dignity Village, Dignity Buses and Dignity Catering understand this well. And our ardent support of STEP (Success Training for Employment Program) at UP is a critical component to earned success.”

Susanne Sweeny showed examples of how their generous donations were helping to focus on those needs, and gave an example of a family that greatly benefited from their assistance.
“The support and discipline of four of our funded agencies enabled the transformation of an entire family,” she said.

For more information, visit GHCOP.org.

Photos by Mary Schenkel