August 2010
Successes are measured in many different ways at The Center and Center House. Recently two of our original Center House residents completed four years of living well at Center House and they have successfully moved out to their own private apartment. It is touching when success stories end with love and your own home!
We are busy renovating two apartments; busy painting, cleaning, and purchasing all new liens and things to welcome two new residents to a new start and a lovely new home! It is wonderful to be able to gift someone a safe place to call their own. The Center and Center House are both peaceful environments; a safe haven for our clients, our residents, our volunteers and our staff.
Two of our benefactors, Bob and Gen Hickey are hosting an end of summer event to raise funds for the residents of Center House. Bob & Gen live on the end of Gooseneck Point Road in Oceanport, New Jersey and have an incredible home and view of the entire Blackberry Bay. At the end of every summer the Oceanport Township hosts a huge fire works display the first Saturday following Labor Day every year.
Rain or Shine! This September 11, 2010 at 7 PM, you are invited to join us for a front row seat to an incredible festive fireworks display. We’ll have a little Night Music, Wine and Cheese, 42 Below Vodka Cocktails and a Light Summer Supper by Moonlight on the Bay! Bob & Gen along with the hospitality committee for Center House are preparing the venue as a fundraiser for the residents of Center House and tickets are priced at only $35.00 per person.
100% of all proceeds benefit the residents of Center House. Please join us in our efforts to improve the quality of life for residents of Center House who are living with HIV/AIDS. Your contribution will provide holiday remembrances, individual birthday gifts and replace apartment furnishings when need.
Please RSVP: 732-774-3416 x 14 or email Clark Shannon
July 2010
The Fourth of July Independence Day celebration has past with not only a weekend cookout for the residents of Center House, but also brought a heat wave that has left the majority of the East Coast with daily temperatures well above 100 degrees.
The heat wave is extremely hard for many of the clients of The Center who depend on us for daily services. Some of our clients walk miles or ride their bikes in the heat for a chance to use our client telephone, enjoy a morning or afternoon snack. At least we have a cool air conditioned community room to serve a healthy daily lunch during the middle of the day.
We’re doing our best to keep our residents and clients hydrated and up to this point we’ve all managed the extended heat wave quite well. Some generous donors have stopped by with extra bottles of water, ice tea, lemon aide and Gator Aid to help serve up an extra cold beverage or two! It would be impossible for us to do what we do without the volunteers, the support of the community and our generous donors.
Thanks for all who are helping us in many ways to continue our services this summer. Over the past few months we’ve moved four new residents into Center House and it is an extremely rewarding experience to know these folks have a bright new future and a place to finally call HOME!
ALL my BEST!
Clark Shannon
June 2010
May was an extremely busy month for The Center in Asbury Park. First we hosted Center a la Carte 2010. Our 17th. Annual fundraiser was held once again at Convention Hall on the Asbury Park Boardwalk.
Twenty – two restaurants and ten beverage vendors donated their signature dishes and specialty drinks to a host of VIP guests. Added to the beautiful chance and silent auction items this year was a BALLOONACY segment which allowed our guests a one in four chance at winning a high end bottle of their favorite liquors.
Special thanks go to Peter James Floral Couture of Asbury Park who created the outrageous and gorgeous decorations for the center pieces. Everyone enjoyed the music provided by our host DJ; Adam Kenter of YES Graphics in Asbury Park. His selection of tunes was the perfect back ground music to heighten all the fun and laughter that was already inside Convention Hall.
J. T. of Madison Marquette fame provided the fantastic lighting that washed though out Convention Hall. ALL in ALL this was a magical and wonderful night. Father Bob’s guests are still complementing everyone on what a wonderful night this was.
It’s simply nice to celebrate another year of caring for those living with HIV/AIDS and recognizing the work that all the volunteers provide on a daily basis. Center a la Carte through the years has proven to be one of our most profitable and best loved signature fundraising events.
In May I was personally able to thank my loving family and loyal friends who sponsored me in our 5K Jersey Shore AIDS Walk that took place along the beautiful Jersey Shore on Sunday, May 16, 2010. Your kind and generous donations meant that I was able to contribute $996.00 to this important and single one day fundraising event. 100% of the proceeds go directly to those living with HIV/AIDS.
Each year we walk for our ‘family and friends’ to remember those who have made their transition from complications associated with the HIV/AIDS virus. This event also allows us to raise both awareness and valuable funds for those who are still struggling with HIV/AIDS.
June is off to a GREAT start! This past weekend we participated in the Gay Pride Festival in Asbury Park with an informational booth that highlighted the social services that we provide for the clients of The Center and the residents of Center House.
Sunday brought a sunny and very windy day to the festival, but a little more sun and the cool breeze added to this already FESTIVE day! Our special thanks to Karen, Les, Marilyn, Lorenzo, Jimmi, Jim and Jim; who all helped man/girl our information booth!
It was with GREAT Pride that I enjoyed working with these dedicated folks who helped us show case the services of The Center at the Pride Festival.
ALL my BEST!
Clark Shannon
April 2010
Dear Family & Friends:
Once each year I reach out to my family and friends and ask that you support the mission of The Center in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where I enjoy a career as Director of Operations for both The Center and Center House.
Every May we host our signature fundraising event, The Jersey Shore AIDS Walk; a 5 K Walk along the beautiful Jersey Shore to raise both awareness and valuable funds for the clients of The Center and our residents of Center House.
100 % of the proceeds go directly to support those living with HIV/AIDS. Your donation would mean the World to me and the Universe I work and live in. Most of our clients and our residents would be lost or forgotten without the social services that The Center provides for them.
Since 1992, for the past seventeen years, in both Monmouth and Ocean Counties; The Center has supported those we serve with much needed Nutrition Programs: Meals to Go, Emergency food and hygiene supplies, monthly family Sunday dinners and a HOT Lunch Program - Monday through Friday – serving between 50 – 75 meals each day.
We provide Housing Assistance for the homeless, rental subsidies to assist people in maintaining their housing, assistance with utility payments and security deposit payments for people securing new housing.
In 2006 we opened Center House, a project of The Center which provides twenty-five single adult studio apartments in a supportive and affordable community setting for homeless adults. Center House is a one of the projects that I am most proud of.
Over the past four years we’ve been able to move over forty-two formerly homeless men and women off the streets and give them a safe environment to not only get well, but to stay well.
While the face of AIDS and HIV has changed over the past twenty-five years, the challenges remain. Those who are depressed, if left alone; often develop mental illness. Those who are left alone without help can be tempted to seek to solve their problems otherwise and are more likely to become addicted to drugs or alcohol.
The Center has created a safe haven for our staff and the seventy-five plus faithful volunteers who prepare and serve meals and assist clients with intake and maintain our food pantry. Our services are a vital part of our community.
We’ve seen positive results and witnessed ripple affects in the lives of those we serve. Your support gives hope to a person who is living with HIV/AIDS. Your donation, no matter how small will touch the life of a stranger and give some relief to the burden that their family and their care givers share.
2009/2010 brought some sad and heartfelt moments as two of our residents recently passed away and made their transition due to complications from the HIV/AIDS virus. I was able to be personally involved in both these young men’s lives and it was with a great sense of responsibility that we provided a home for both of these young men. I am most grateful that they did not have to make their transition alone or die on the streets.
Your contribution makes it possible for us to continue to provide care for those less fortunate and to those who struggle on a daily basis just to maintain some normalcy. We have clients that walk miles just to use our telephone so they are able to book their medical appointments.
Every day things we take for granite are insurmountable to those suffering, but we are determined to improve the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS. I appreciate your love, support and prayers as I try to pay it forward in my work and devotion to my career.
Your gift allows us not to be looking for a way to pay back – as your generous donation will make all the difference to one single life today! May you continue to be blessed in your journey though this Universe.
I am indebted to all that you continue to do for me and others.
ALL my BEST!
Clark Shannon
Director of Operations
The Center and Center House
806 Third Avenue
Asbury Park, New Jersey 07712
732.774.3416 x 21
917.374.2444 Cell