Somerset Home for Temporarily Displaced Children (somersethome.org), a nonprofit agency that provides abused, neglected, homeless, and runaway youth throughout New Jersey with housing, a stable environment, and supportive services, recently hosted its 1st Annual Spark! Gala: A Hopeful Future for Youth”. The event, which was held at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, raised more than $60,000 to support Somerset Home’s programs and services including temporary housing, arts and recreation, combatting human trafficking, counseling, life skills training, and more. Since 1970, over 7,000 youth have benefitted from the organization’s work.
The evening included a cocktail hour, silent auction, dinner, and an awards ceremony. The 2015 Spark! honorees included: Ethicon, part of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Corporate Partners); Raymond Fantuzzi, Jr. (Community Leader); the Renaissance at Raritan Valley Women’s Club (Community Partner); and Dr. Gregory Hirsch and Joy Mathiowdis (Dedicated Volunteers). Two of the agency’s former residents served as keynote speakers and gave powerful accounts of how Somerset Home made a difference in their lives. The Lisa A. Warren Scholarship was awarded to a Somerset Home client who will be continuing his education. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was the Gold Sponsor and Old Republic Construction Program Group was the Bronze Sponsor for the Gala.
“Our very first Spark! Gala was a tremendous success”, said David Walker, executive director of Somerset Home and a Green Brook resident. “The inaugural event recognized individuals, companies, and organizations who have given their time and support to continue our organization’s mission. Money raised will help us continue to be at the forefront of issues such as youth aging out and human trafficking that impact vulnerable youth each day. Congratulations to our outstanding gala planning committee on a job well done and thank you to our friends, supporters, and the greater community for helping us provide brighter futures for youth.
About Somerset Home
Somerset Home, incorporated in 1970, is dedicated to meeting the needs of abused and neglected youth. The agency provides seven programs for adolescents and their families: Brahma House crisis intervention center; Passages, My Place and Whitney House transitional-living programs; Pathways independent-living skills program; Street Smart street outreach; and Bridge House supportive housing for homeless young adults.
Somerset Home’s residential programs and one of the Street Smart street outreach offices are located in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Satellite offices in East Orange, Hackensack and Morristown provide street outreach services to six northern and central New Jersey counties (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, and Union). Visit online at somersethome.org.
David Walker, executive director of Somerset Home and Green Brook resident
(above l-r) Stephanie Durant (Gala co-chair), Dr. Gregory Hirsch (Gala honoree), Joel Brown (Gala co-chair), Claire Calandra (board president), and David Walker (executive director and Green Brook resident).
