”We are pleased to see organizations such as Home For The Games creating such unique community partnerships to raise money in support of ending homelessness in Vancouver. It is through the hard work and support of community initiatives like this that our goal of ensuring that all Vancouver citizens have access to safe, decent and affordable housing by 2015 can be realized.”
–Jae Kim, President, Streetohome Foundation
Benefit concert raises awareness and funds to help fight homelessness
October 5, 2009
VANCOUVER, BC
The Waldorf Hotel was alive with the sounds of three local bands that performed at a charity concert on September 25 to support Home For The Games. More than one hundred people turned out Friday night to groove to the beats of Knifey Spoony, The Sambata Band and the Carnival Band to benefit charities fighting homelessness.
Concert proceeds totaled $585, which will be directed to Streetohome Foundation and Covenant House Vancouver to special projects aimed at reducing homelessness. The energetic crowd danced into the early hours to the high-spirited sounds of the three bands.
Home For The Games extends its gratitude to the members of Knifey Spoony, The Sambata Band and the Carnival Band for entertaining concertgoers and a special thank you to volunteer Christine McLaren for her outstanding efforts organizing the event.
About Home For The Games
Home For The Games is a non-profit web-based system to match 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games visitors with Metro Vancouver hosts for short-term home stays with half of the nightly fee directed to charitable organizations tackling homelessness. Home For The Games is building a legacy of a different sort: creating opportunities for people to share an unforgettable Olympic experience with guests from around the world while earning modest rental income. At the same time, we ensure that half of home-stay “rent” will go directly to registered charities helping Metro Vancouver’s most vulnerable citizens. There’s no fee to list or book a room on the Home For The Games website. Hosts can set their own rates and will receive a tax receipt for the portion of the home stay fee that goes to charity. Funds raised through home stay fees will be directed to Streetohome Foundation and Covenant House Vancouver.
About Streetohome Foundation
Streetohome is a community-based foundation dedicated to reducing homelessness through housing and support services in the City of Vancouver. Streetohome brings together partners across the community to pool their energy and resources to provide supportive, safe, affordable, clean housing. Through Streetohome, corporate leaders, non-profits and government are working together to develop real, sustainable change. Current initiatives include funding and facilitating the creation of housing for people who are homeless, including supportive housing for homeless mothers and babies. Funds raised through Home For The Games will support an innovative project to help address homelessness among people with mental illness spearheaded by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The four-year pilot project will help them secure housing while ensuring they receive access to integrated treatment and services. For more information, please visit streetohome.org .
About Covenant House Vancouver
Covenant House Vancouver exists for young people who often have no on else—people between the ages of 16 and 24 who have fled physical, emotional or sexual abuse or have been forced from their homes. Primarily privately funded, Covenant House relies on the generosity of over 50,000 individuals and organizations to provide shelter, food, clothing and counseling to over 2,000 young people each year. Funds raised through Home For The Games will directly support the shelter housing these street-engaged youth. For more information visit covenanthousebc.org.
