I don’t know what I was thinking, shooting video of myself beside a beautiful Hollywood starlet at 5am, but I did. Caterina Scorsone and I are both supporters of The Good Neighbours’ Club, a day centre for men who are 50 and over and who are homeless or marginally housed.

Caterina’s father, the amazing Dr. Bruno Scorsone, is the club’s Executive Director. My mother, Adrienne McLennan, who was at one time the highest ranking woman and highest ranking civilian on any police force in Canada, is the chair of the board.

If you’d like to join us in supporting The Good Neighbours’ Club, please donate here. To learn more about Caterina Scorsone, please click here.

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Caterina Scorsone being interviewed by Citytv about The Good Neighbours' Club

“I like your Santa Claus, Joe,” I said of the pin attached to the pocket of a man I’d just met at The Good Neighbours’ Club, a day club for older men who are homeless or marginally housed.

“I love Christmas” he said, grinning ear to ear. “I’ve been a member of the club for years and I come every December 25. We both do,” he said pointing to a friend sitting across from him who was clearly more interested in the turkey and stuffing than conversation. “it’s wonderful,” Joe added.

Joe wearing his Santa pin

The Good Neighbours’ Club is open 365 days a year, and gives an important sense of community for those who don’t always know where they’ll be sleeping next. The club provides showers, laundry, an address for mail, a place to lock up any valuables, food, clothing, companionship and compassion.

For this Christmas dinner, there were some special surprises, including Caterina Scorsone, one of the stars from ABC’s Private Practice, who served meals to club members. The Good Neighbours’ Club is one of Caterina’s favourite charities, and she had this to say to people about it:

Caterina’s father, Dr. Bruno Scorsone, is the executive director of the Club. He was there with the volunteers, including members of his family, and took time out of the busy Christmas day to talk about why the club is so important to so many:

Volunteers came from all over, including from the congregation formerly lead by Dr. Rev. David Bruce, who is now on staff at The Good Neighbours’ Club. And 50 gifts arrived, donated by the Toronto Police Service and distributed to the men by lottery drawn by Lauro Monteiro who oversees logistics at the club. The police often extend kindnesses to the club. Toronto Police Chief William Blair is The Good Neighbours’ Club vice patron. Lt. Governor David Onley is the Club’s Patron.

Volunteers including Cateraina Scorsone and members from Dr. Rev. David Bruce's former congregation

When the media showed up to do a story about Christmas at the club, Alex, Ray and various other members of the club were grateful for the opportunity to tell Canadians how important the club is to helping them back to a better life.

GNC member talking to the media about how important the club is

People have pre conceived ideas on who may hit times hard enough to use a food bank, become homeless, or need the services of The Good Neighbours’ Club. It’s an irony not lost on many of the members, some of whom were high earning professionals before bad luck, bad choices or bad health brought them to the land of need.

It happens.

I’ve met men there who achieved more in their careers than I could ever hope to but who now rely on The Good Neighbours’ Club for food and clothing. You might think they’d be bitter, but mostly they are grateful that they have somewhere to go every day of the year when they need it, even Christmas.

Members of The Good Neighbours' Club at Christmas dinner

Just because they are homeless or marginally housed does not mean they are without community. They have one, and the club is its hub. If someone hasn’t been by in a while, someone will check up on him. When the body of an older man with no ID turns up, GNC staff and club members help the police figure out who it might be. And when one has good fortune, he tries to help his buddies.

It’s a phenomenon Judy Graves, the recipient of the first Good Neighbours’ Club’s Paul Croutch Award for her work advocating for Vancouver’s homeless, knows very well. She discovered she could not effectively get a vulnerable man housed if he was worried about the friends he was leaving behind to the streets. She had much better success when she could say, “I have found housing for you and for a number of your friends – go round them up.” Then they would go with her.

Homeless advocate Judy Graves with Gerald

There was a recent study that suggests that those experiencing poverty can better recognize and respond to signals of distress in others, leading them to act more kindly and compassionately in certain circumstances. As the study’s lead author Jennifer Stellar said, “These latest results indicate that there’s a culture of compassion and cooperation among lower-class individuals that may be born out of threats to their well-being.”

I can’t speak to the study, but I can tell you that the men at The Good Neighbours’ Club are gentlemanly in an old world way. They hold the door, many of them stand until a lady is seated, and they offer what little they have as a token of thanks for anything you do for them. And when I am in the middle of the room with a perplexed look on my face (a look that I wear a lot regardless of my surroundings), someone inevitably offers help.

Today it was Joe, who volunteered to watch my video gear as I suddenly realized I could not be in two places at once, and had to leave my equipment behind.

When I got back, Joe decided it was time to move on. He didn’t stay for the raffle of the gifts donated by the police. He was there for the food and the companionship, and it was time to give his place to another. Let someone else enjoy what he has already known, and let another more in need have one of the 50 presents to go round.

Joe was content.

Almost.

On his way out, he pressed something into my hand, smiled and said “Merry Christmas.” I opened my hand to find the Santa Claus pin he’d been wearing, the one I’d admired.

Now he was content.

And I who came to give of my time left with far more than I came in with.

Merry Christmas, Joe. Merry Christmas.

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Toronto born,  LA-based Caterina Scorsone prepared for her role as the brilliant but drug-addicted Dr. Amelia Shepherd on the hit television show Private Practice by spending time with members of The Good Neighbours’ Club, a Toronto day centre for older men who are homeless or marginally housed.

Her father, Dr. Bruno Scorsone, is the Executive Director at the club, and Caterina has witnessed firsthand the hope and despair of club members, some of whom, like the character she plays, are battling their way back from addiction to a better life. You can see Caterina Scorsone on the morning of December 29 on Breakfast Television Toronto where she will talk about the show, the club and how one inspired her work on the other.

The Good Neighbours’ Club is the last refuge for many. Without adequate housing, it is the one place they can turn to for showers, clothing, a place to lock up what few valuables they may have, medical care, food, companionship and compassion. It is open from 8am until 5pm, giving members somewhere safe to go in the day, away from the violence and temptations of the street.  The club makes final arrangements for the men when there is no one to do that for them.

By the time a marginally housed or homeless man is 50, he is physiologically closer to 70 in age. The stress of a nomadic life is extraordinary and in economic times such as these, and it’s only getting worse. A jobless recovery has seen more pressure on The Good Neighbours’ Club even as budgets are being cut. The desperately poor and mentally ill are being pushed into even worse circumstances even as the services that could help them are being eviscerated.

These are cruel times.

But, amidst the hardship, there are flashes of great kindness. And as bright a light as Caterina Scorsone is on screen, so is she off, and she is using her Christmas holiday to help the club. She joins a list of luminaries who this year have given so generously of their time and talents, including Citytv’s Roger Petersen, CTV News Toronto’s  Joe Tilley, Senator Art Eggleton, The Honourable Glen Murray, Sheldon Levy, Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam and many others.

It is easy to look the other way. It is much harder to look in the eyes of someone in trouble and say “I see you, I know you are in pain and though it is not much, let me stand with you for this short time so you will know that you are not alone.”

Thank you to Caterina Scorsone, Roger Petersen, and everyone who has supported The Good Neighbours’ Club this year. Special thanks go to Dr. Bruno Scorsone, Dr. David Bruce, Lauro Monteiro and all the staff and support workers who give so tirelessly of themselves to help those others have forgotten.

They are all gifted, skilled people who would make so much more in the private sector, but who have chosen to live their lives in accordance with their beliefs and consciences.

We at Babble On Communications have been grateful once again this year to lend our support to this most worthy cause. We join Caterina Scorsone this Christmas in hoping you will consider making a donation to The Club at http://goodneighboursclub.org/how-you-can-help-1/how-you-can-help.html

About The Good Neighbours’ Club:

Funded largely by the United Way of Greater Toronto, the Ontario Ministry of Health and the City of Toronto, The Good Neighbours’ Club is assisted by the Daily Bread Food Bank, Second Harvest, Whole Foods Market and Torontonians who realize that these men could be their fathers, their brothers, their sons or even themselves. For more information about The Good Neighbours’ Club please visit www.goodneighboursclub.org

About Private Practice:

Created by Shonda Rhimes, the Golden Globe-winning creator of Grey’s Anatomy, comes the story of a team of gifted doctors working together to change the lives of their patients for the better as they look to one another for friendship and love. The doctors of Oceanside Wellness and Pacific Wellcare work on the most difficult cases, patients whose medical needs often pose moral and ethical dilemmas. Private Practice is executive-produced by Rhimes (Grey’s Anatomy, Off the Map), Betsy Beers (Grey’s Anatomy, Off the Map), Mark Gordon (The Hoax, Saving Private Ryan), Mark Tinker (St. Elsewhere, NYPD Blue), Steve Blackman and Craig Turk. Private Practice is an ABC Studios Production. For more information, please visit: http://abc.go.com/shows/private-practice

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The average homeless member of The Good Neighbours’ Club walks as much as 15K per day in search of food, shelter and work. Reverend David Bruce wants them to know they’re not walking alone. On Thursday, April 21st, 2011, starting at 7am, he will walk the 42.2 km from his country Church, Heritage United in Markham, to the Good Neighbours’ Club at Jarvis and Shuter in Toronto. There he will help Good Neighbours’ Club members kick off their Toronto Challenge pledge drive with a $2000 donation from his congregation. Proceeds will go to The Good Neighbours’ Club, a day club for older homeless and marginally housed men, and the closest thing to a home that many of them have.

What:

• Rev. Dr. David Bruce, 47, walking 42.2KM to The Good Neighbours’ Club to highlight the plight of the older, homeless men the club serves. (The Good Neighbours’ Club is not affiliated with any religious organization). Rev. Dr. Bruce is a board member of The Good Neighbours’ Club.
• Red-shirted, noisy club members and supporters will meet Bruce at Yonge-Dundas Square and walk with him to The Good Neighbours’ Club
• At The Good Neighbours’ Club, Rev. Bruce will present $2000 from his congregation to the men for their Toronto Challenge walk for the Good Neighbours’ Club
• His progress will be tweeted under the hashtag #RevwalkGNC

When:

• Thursday, April 21st, 2011
• 7:00am – 5:00pm
• 7am start from Heritage United Church
• We will be regularly updated by Rev. Bruce as he goes
• 3:45pm (approx.) arrival at Yonge-Dundas Square
• 3:50pm (approx.) departure to Good Neighbours’ Club
• 4:05pm (approx.) arrival at The Good Neighbours’ Club
• 4:10pm (approx.) celebration and cheque presentation

Who:

• Rev. Dr. David Bruce of Heritage United Church, Markham
• Members of the Good Neighbours’ Club, men who are 50 and over, who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness.  You can hear them speak about The Good Neighbours’ Club on this Good Neighbours’ Club video
• Dozens of cheering, noisy supporters including musicians and club members to cheer Rev. Bruce

Where:

• From: Heritage United Church in Markham (7046 11th Concession Road, Markham, Ont.)
• Then North to the 14th at the Pickering Border, West to Yonge and all the way down Yonge
• To Yonge Dundas Square
• To the Good Neighbours’ Club (170 Jarvis St)

Why:

The Good Neighbours’ Club is a Toronto charity dedicated to the homeless or marginally-housed man who is 50+ and trying to find his way back to a normal life. By the time he is 50, a homeless man is aged well beyond his years. He is also vulnerable to attack by younger men.  Members receive new, donated clothes and have access to mail services, showers, laundry facilities, hot meals, phones, televisions, games, computers, a weekly medical clinic staffed by Street Health nurses, a safe place to lock up valuables…and compassion.  The club also provides funeral arrangements for members whose bodies would otherwise go unclaimed.  The Good Neighbours’ Club is largely funded by the United Way of Greater Toronto, the Ontario Ministry of Health and the City of Toronto, and is assisted by the Daily Bread Food Bank, Second Harvest, Whole Foods Market, Rotary Club of Toronto and Torontonians who realize that these men could be their fathers, their brothers, their sons or even themselves.

Additional information about The Good Neighbours’ Club can also be found at www.goodneighboursclub.org. Video of the men talking about why they’re fundraising for the club at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sXxCP6m3P8&feature=related and about their efforts to fundraise for Japan from the front page of the Toronto Star http://www.thestar.com/news/article/960325–fiorito-homeless-in-toronto-reach-out-to-homeless-in-japan and on video at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs-0_NMCAHg

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When the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, their thoughts ran to those so far away, newly made homeless by natural disaster and bad luck. Dave and Ray decided to do what they could to help, accpeting donations from the other men in a box marked “Tokyo Dough.”  Those who have little helping those with nothing left.

Joe Fiorito, on the front page of The Toronto Star, picks up the story of the men of the Good Neighbours’ Club’s efforts to help Japan.

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Dignitaries mingled with the homeless at The Second Annual Day of the Homeless  at the Good Neighbours’ Club at Jarvis and Shuter. The Day of the Homeless honours those who have died on the streets, and takes place on or around the anniversary of the death of Good Neighbours’ Club member Paul Croutch, the former journalist who died after being beaten by intoxicated soldiers from a nearby armoury in August, 2005.

This year, the event featured a photo exhibit of the men taken by acclaimed photo journalist Rita Leistner (Time, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair) and an exhibit called Expressions of Hope and Despair, featuring photos of life on the streets by club members themselves (all homeless or marginally housed).

Dignitaries included the Club’s Patron, The Honourable David Onley, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Sheldon Levy, the President of Ryerson University.  It was hosted by Francis D’Souza (event host), Citytv – CityNews Anchor.

The Good Neighbours’ Club is a Toronto charity dedicated to the homeless or marginally-housed man who is 50+ and trying to find his way back to a normal life.  By the time he is 50, a homeless man is aged well beyond his years.  He is also vulnerable to attack by younger men.  No other Toronto charity is so uniquely equipped to deal with the daytime needs of the homeless man over 50.

Founded in 1933 and located at Jarvis and Shuter, The Good Neighbours’ Club is a day centre for homeless and under-housed men who are 50 and over.  Its members have faced the despair of downsizing or have lost everything due to illness, addiction, poor choices or bad luck.  They receive new, donated clothes and have access to mail services, showers, laundry facilities, hot meals, phones, televisions, games, computers, a weekly medical clinic staffed by Street Health nurses, a safe place to lock up valuables…and compassion.  The club also provides final arrangements for members whose bodies would otherwise go unclaimed.

Funded largely by the United Way of Greater Toronto, the Ontario Ministry of Health and the City of Toronto, The Good Neighbours’ Club is assisted by the Daily Bread Food Bank, Second Harvest, Whole Foods Market and Torontonians who realize that these men could be their fathers, their brothers, their sons or even themselves. For more information about The Good Neighbours’ Club please visit www.goodneighboursclub.org.

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Ray May has lived on the streets and knows what it can do to a man.  At 62, he has come back from addiction and homelessness, and now seeks to help others just like him make their way up from despair and into a better life. For Ray, that means donating many hours a week to The Good Neighbours’ Club, a day club for homeless men who are 50 years of age and over.

The club provides a safe place for older men to go in the day, showers, good food, a place for mail, AA meetings, diabetic clinics, clothing, counseling, phones, computers, burial, and other services and amenities they might otherwise go without. For more than 5000 members, the club is their lifeline, a place for companionship in a very cold world.

The club has existed since 1933, founded initially to give shell shocked, homeless WW I veterans somewhere to go in the day. 80 per cent of its funding comes from the United Way and the remaining 20 per cent comes from donations and grants. The club has always operated on a lean budget but its membership is increasing, its reserve is dwindling and its funders have made it clear that there is no additional money in the budget.

That has May worried and wondering what would happen to other men if the club had to dramatically scale back its services or, worse, close.

“The Club helped me get housed,” says May. “I was living in a shelter. I wanted to go see my grand kids but the shelter told me if I left, I’d lose my place. A [Good Neighbours’ Club] member who worked in the kitchen told me he’d help and sure enough, he got me into his building, into the place right beside him. People here help you however they can.”

Men who have been in May’s position need all the help they can get.

By the time a homeless man is 50, his body is often wracked with diseases and conditions more in keeping with a man decades older.  He is almost always medically frail and vulnerable.  His experiences often leave him disconnected from society as a whole. But at The Good Neighbours’ Club, he is accepted.

Out there, it’s a different story.

“I seen people beaten up over a cigarette,” May says. “I’ve been beaten up for nothing too. Some of the guys now are sleeping all together down at City Hall. It’s safer that way.”

May has seen many lives undone by the street, but the death that haunts him most is that of Paul Croutch, a close friend. Croutch was a 59 year old former journalist who battled mental illness, alcoholism and homelessness. On August 31, 2005, Croutch was resting on his favourite bench when young, drunken soldiers from a nearby armoury pummeled him with kicks and blows. He died a few days later in hospital.

Until his death, Croutch spent his days at the club, one of the few places he felt safe. He preferred sleeping outdoors to sleeping in crowded shelters which, ironically, he felt were too dangerous.

“Lots of people won’t stay in the hostels,” says Jerry Domnski, 71, another friend of Croutch’s and also a member of the Good Neighbours’ Club. “The reason why? There’s a lot of trouble.”

Accordingly to Dr. Stephen Hwang, a leading Toronto-based researcher on homelessness, the murder rate of homeless men in Canada, while much lower than in the US, is still two and a half times higher than that of Canadian housed men of the same age.

Domnski thinks Croutch was targeted for one reason only.

“He never bothered nobody. It’s age, you know. Young guys coming down and doing it,” Domnski says.

The homeless are extremely vulnerable to attack, often by younger men, and in many places, the trend is growing – and very worrying. The US based National Coalition for the Homeless released a report over the summer which noted that attacks against the homeless are rising. Those 25 or younger constitute 73% of perpetrators, and the  vast majority of those are thrill seekers, many in their teens, believed to be inspired by violent games and “bum fight” internet videos.

The homeless make easy targets for the frustrated, the disenfranchised, and the drunk.

The Toronto Police do not keep specific stats on violence against the homeless, but a 2007 Streethealth Report surveying the homeless found levels of violence 35 times greater than the general population. Within the previous year, 1 in 3 homeless persons reported being the victim of assault and 1 in 8 reported being assaulted by police.

On September 12th, almost four years to the day that Paul Croutch died, Donald Jackson, 71 and homeless, was savagely beaten while sitting on a bench in the Veterans’ section in Toronto’s Pine Hills Cemetery.  He died six days later in hospital. A 14 year old girl has been charged with first degree murder. A 26 year old man has also been charged.

At least, in the club, the men feel safe. And that’s important for all the members, but especially for those who are newly homeless. And in an unstable economy with an aging population, there are many new homeless.

There are four, recently donated, state of the art computers at The Good Neighbours’ Club. They belonged to four men, IT professionals, who received them as part of their redundancy packages. Laid off months before, unable to find work, they have entered the shelter system and they cannot take the computers in with them. At night, they sleep wherever they can. In the day, they come by to use the same computers they gave up looking for work and a little hope.

“Yup,” says May, “I don’t know what would happen to a lot of these men without this place.”

Want to know more about Paul Croutch? Watch this Paul Croutch slide show.

Photo credit for photo at top of this article: Susan Wright.

Slide show by Susan McLennan.

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WHAT: Photo and Interview op at The Good Neighbours’ Club with Caterina Scorsone.

Scorsone will:
- help serve the men lunch
-wrap Christmas gifts for them
-inspect the toys the members have raised for children who would otherwise go without
-tour the club and otherwise be available for photos and interviews.

WHEN: Wednesday, December 16^th 2009  11am-1pm

WHO: Caterina Scorscone, star of Showcase’s four part miniseries Alice (also stars Academy Award-winner Kathy Bates, Tim Curry) and the upcoming film Edge of Darkness with Mel Gibson.

WHERE: The Good Neighbours’ Club 170 Jarvis Street (at the corner of Shuter Street)
www.goodneighboursclub.org

The Good Neighbours’ Club has been providing services for men facing issues of homelessness, poverty, unemployment, and mental and physical illness since 1933. Every single day of the year the club provides meals for these men, as well as clothing, showers, laundry, mail and phone services, and recreational and health services.

The gifts wrapped by Caterina and her father Bruno Scorsone, the Executive Director at The Club, will be distributed to the men on Christmas Day as they enjoy a turkey lunch with all the fixings. The club is bringing joy to men at a time that can be very difficult for those without a family or home of their own.

- 30 -

Note to Editors, B-roll and art available.

For additional information and/or to arrange for an interview, please contact:

Susan McLennan
Babble On Communications
Ph: (416) 699-1846; cell: (416) 568-5974
Email: susan@babbleoncom.com

Deborah Keegan
Babble On Communications
Ph: (416) 691-5168; cell: (416) 525-5177;
Email: deborah@babbleoncom.com

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The women are all featured performers in a new television show called BIG VOICE which will air on the W Network. Each week, Elaine Overholt, vocal coach to the stars (Richard Gere, Rene Zellweger), gets to the heart of each woman’s singing persona and what’s holding her back, helping her dig deep within to find her inner power and strength through song. Every episode culminates in a fully produced performance of each woman’s song, usually one written by, for or about her.

One of the performers is Kelly Downs, the Director of Development and Volunteers at The Good Neighbours’ Club, a day club for homeless men who are fifty and over. Kelly is self possessed and beautiful, and it’s hard to imagine that at one time her life was as full of trouble as some of the members of the Club. BIG VOICE had filmed Kelly at the club and when Jack Lenz, the head of Lenz Entertainment, the production company behind the TV show, heard that The Good Neighbours’ Club was in urgent need of a fundraising event, he and his production team jumped in with both feet to bring the women’s acts to the stage.

Virtually every performer who is part of the first season of the TV show also performed, donating their time and their considerable talents to help older, homeless men in desperate need of hand up, not a hand out. And until the first rehearsal in the week leading up to this November 25 show called BIG HEARTS, BIG NIGHT, none of them had ever met before. But these sisters of song came together to help older men in their greatest time of need. And all of us involved with The Good Neighbours’ Club are truly grateful.

I’d love to tell you more about their stories – but the television show will do that so much better than I, so I will simply share a little about the incredible gifts they brought to this very special evening.

Kelly Downs

Kelly Downs kicked off the evening with a rousing number and later sang a touching song written by her father, a musician, who died unexpectedly only weeks ago, still beaming with pride in his daughter’s final performance for the tv show.

Tyla Bolte

The gracious Tyla Bolte sang a vampy fun number about stepping out into the world, stunning in a gorgeous floor-length gown and black veil draping part of her face.

Nuala Byles with Liz West, Lisa Hildebrandt, and Laura Robinson

Nuala Byles, an extremely accomplished Creative Director in advertising and design, sang a song that celebrated her love of life, which she has held more dear since a near death experience. Christopher Ward wrote the beautiful song “Step Into the Light” especially for her. Christopher Ward’s other songs include “Black Velvet,” made popular by Nuala’s sister Alannah Myles.

Michelle B

Michelle B. is the owner of one of Toronto’s most loved restaurants, The Corner House, near Casa Loma. In her previous life, Michelle B. had a top 40 hit and toured North America. Michelle wrote the song she sang called Slippin Away, a video of which was shot with accliamed Music Director “Little X.” Michelle B. and The Corner House very kindly donated an extraordinary bottle of wine for the auction.

Leslie Adlam

Leslie Adlam brought the house down with a rousing Gospel number that didn’t seem possible coming from a Business Analyst for one of Canada’s investment dealers located in the city’s financial district. Besides her gift of song, Leslie’s sense of humour had kept Elaine Overholt and the women of BIG VOICE in great spirits throughout the rehearsals.

Carol Fawcett with sisters Nanci Francis, Victoria Wright and Tracey Vogrin

An effervescent singer with great presence, Carol Fawcett sang with sisters Nanci Francis, Victoria Wright, and Tracey Vogrin. Together, they nailed a fabulous Big Band number inspired by their mother who was, in fact, a big band era singer.

Laura Robinson with brother Chris Robinson

Laura Robinson sang a lovely song she wrote for her father which she played with her brother, professional jazz saxophonist Chris Robinson. She also generously and beautifully sang back up for various other women over the course of the night. Laura is also one of the inventors of the game “Balderdash” and one of the authors of the most recent “Chicken Soup” book. Laura very kindly donated autographed books and games for the auction.

Lisa Hildebrandt and Josh Lavoie

Lisa Hildebrandt had a spell in her life where things were going about as well as they do in a country and western song – and that inspired her choice of musical genre. She held her own against any professional country and western singer and did a magnificent job.

Liz West and Josh Lavoie

Liz West is known and loved to Torontonians as the Entertainment Reporter for CityTV – but tonight she didn’t report, she was a STAR! Joined by Josh Lavoie, who had also sung with Lisa Hildebrandt, they sang beautiful harmonies and looked like they were having the time of their lives.

Margot Jane Kempton with Tyla Bolte and Laura Robinson

Margot Jane Kempton sang with such warmth, the whole room fell in love with her. She was joined by Tyla Bolte and Laura Robinson.

Roxy Cummings

Roxy Cummings lost both of her parents at a very young age and was basically left to raise herself. She’s done an extraordinary job – and no one who heard her that night could do anything but remember her.

Cara Volchoff and some of the Women of Big Voice

Cara Volchoff, the creative producer of BIG VOICE,  joined the women on stage for a breathtaking performance of “Natural Woman,” backing up the incomparable Elaine Overholt. Cara was fabulous to work with as we pulled the details together and she is hard at work on VERB.ATIM for the Helix Dance Project, which opens at  The Isabel Bader Theatre on December 11 (for tickets call 416.618.1682).

Elaine Overholt, Emcee, storyteller and Star of the Evening

Elaine Overholt told the stories of these women, introducing each one with love and thoughtfulness. Elaine Overholt rehearsed each of these women’s numbers, accompanying them when Jack Lenz was not. She held the audience spell bound and in the palm of her hand at the same time.

Jack Lenz

And then there is Jack Lenz. Jack saw senior men down on their luck and in trouble and asked how he could help. Jack Lenz is a world renowned musician and composer in his own right. He’s probably the busiest person you could ever meet – and yet he threw a tremendous amount of support and care into pulling together a fundraiser that will see at least 30,000 meals be served to men who otherwise would go hungry and face greater peril in the streets.

Jack Lenz then made a sizable donation on top of that which will allow the work of the Good Neighbours’ Club, under the very capable leadership of Dr. Bruno Scorsone, to continue. A remarkable man, Jack Lenz embodies the very spirit of giving and generosity.

Jack Lenz, Susan McLennan and Elaine Overholt

A big round of applause also goes to our technical team who donated their time, Stage Manager Nicole Paserin and our Lighting Operator Michael Bergmann who brought along colleague, Mike Wilson, to run the spot. To Mark and Laurie Rosenfield who offered immeasurable support in helping to set this up, to GNC’s Helen Hawkins, Kelly Downs, Adrienne McLennan, Charles Hill and Bruno Scorsone, to Babble On’s Deborah Keegan who worked tirelessly to help organize this event, and to Chris Lawrence, our fabulous auctioneer for the evening — well done. We couldn’t have done this without you.

Every one of you who was part of this event looked at the increasing need of those living in poverty in very hard times and said, “you are not alone. I will stand with you.” And that is the mark of a very good person.

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