Helping homeless took top priority with Merrill Lynch

By Corinthia McCoy

The Merrill Lynch Grand Gala committee has selected Freedom House out of about 20 candidates as this year's gala recipient.

Committee members selected the center, which assists homeless families in crisis, to support a transitional house to be built next year. It's designed to help special-needs homeless families get a fresh start.

Members said the selection process was difficult, but there was an "overwhelming sentiment to do something for the homeless," said Joseph Jacques of the financial management and advisory company.

"They're all good and worthy causes that do their presentation, and it's very hard to choose, but this year it came down to we have to do something for the homeless," he said.

Freedom House's transitional three-bedroom house will be near its current facility at 2997 St. Anthony Drive in Green Bay. It will have a 24-by-40-foot garage for storage, said Gary LaFave, the center's president.

Families typically go through a two-month program to get back on their feet, but families who are dealing with medical, mental, addiction or other issues that may require more time or room before leaving the center will be placed in the transitional home, LaFave said.

The seventh annual Merrill Lynch Grand Gala fundraising event will be held Oct. 10 at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 2040 Airport Drive, Ashwaubenon.

Last year the event raised $150,980 for the Cornerstone Community Center's Resch Olympic Pavilion at the Ashwaubenon Sports Complex.

LaFave said Freedom House will combine its biggest fundraiser, the New Beginnings Banquet, with the Gala this year, since the two events would occur within a matter of weeks of each other.

To view previous Freedom House stories, visit our News Archives page.