The Second Annual Good Samaritan Awards Gala on Friday, October 26 recognized several Collin County residents and groups who have gone 'above and beyond' in service to the Samaritan Inn, Collin County's only homeless shelter.
Attended by over 400 at the Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center, the gala and auction was a benefit for the Samaritan Inn. 2007 award winners were: McKinney Mayor Bill Whitfield; Darling Homes; Shawn Lane; Martha Rosemond; Rick Wells & Don Day of Rick's Chophouse; PJ Holland-Rasor of McKinney Independent School District; Beth Hansen of Cross Timbers Youth Orchestra; St Jude's Catholic Church; Howard Rosenberg of All American Roofing & Construction; and Pete Meldrum & Richard Reid of Outcomes Inc.
Addison businessman and Inn benefactor Marc Sparks was a keynote speaker at the event, as was Executive Director Lynne Sipiora who introduced three ‘graduates’ of the Inn, former residents now successfully living on their own.
Progress on the Inn’s new Gateway Apartments (transitional living for Inn graduates scheduled to open in McKinney in 2008) was highlighted, as was the Inn’s Thrift Store. Samaritan Inn-dustries chocolate truffles, made and marketed by Inn residents, and the Inn’s new cookbook, A Touch of Home, were sold. Live music was provided by Cross Timbers Tweneboa Drum Orchestra and Flat Souls jazz band.
Sponsors were: Albertsons; Capital One; Emerson Process Management; Delta Dallas Companies; Gay McCall Isaacs Gordon & Roberts; Prosper Bank; Western Federal Credit Union; Ebby Halliday Realtors; Skywire Software; Ritterling Realty; Matt Shaheen; Lightolier Controls; Total Office Solutions; and Abernathy Roeder Boyd & Joplin.
Rene’ Bates of Rene’ Bates Auctioneers provided live auction services, and over 100 silent auction items were donated. Auction items from merchants on McKinney’s Historic Square were featured as ‘McKinney Main Street’.
The Gala was attended by 400 guests, benefactors, and ‘graduates’ of the Inn. photo by Barbara Manning
McKinney Mayor Bill Whitfield accepts his 2007 Good Samaritan Award from Samaritan Inn Board President Zulfi Ahmed. photo by Barbara Manning
Auctioneer Rene Bates introduces Dallas Celebrity Chef Richard Chamberlain, who offered two private dinner parties at his home at the Gala’s live auction. photo by Barbara Manning
