the Westside
Shelter and Hunger Coalition.
The WSHC works with 25 other local human service
organizations, government agencies and faith-based organizations
to provide services to homeless and hungry people throughout the
Westside.
Many of those honored have found successful jobs,
have returned to school, and all are living a life that they thought
was out of their reach just a short time ago.
The emcee of the event, Wendie Malick from the
hit television show “Just Shoot Me,” described many
of those in attendance as people who have achieved a better life.
One woman, who received an award titled “Giving
Back,” is a member of the Santa Monica College community.
Patricia Scanlan has had a checkered past that
consisted low points. She’s had a 25-year history of drug
and alcohol abuse, she’s been homeless, in and out of jail,
and on Skid Row.
Scanlan attributes her remarkable recovery to
the CLARE Foundation (Commited, Learning, Acceptance, Recovery and
Education) and programs like it that helped her get back on her
feet.
“I have an incredible desire to change
my life, to not live like I was living,” said Scanlan.
“I am absolutely certain that on my own
I would not have been able to achieve what I have achieved. I would
have been overwhelmed.”
Scanlan is currently studying psychology at
SMC, attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings regularly, and is the
service coordinator for the Intake and Assessment Department at
the CLARE Foundation. Scanlan praised her experiences at SMC.
“I love SMC, I love going to school. I
have just found it to be incredible,” said Scanlan.
One of the 25 organizations that participated
in the festivities was Chrysalis.
“One of the things that we do is provide
jobs, so as soon as someone walks through our door we know that
they’re already motivated to be able to change their lives,”
said Maureen Wiggins, program coordinator for Chrysalis and co-chair
of this event.
“We try to help them get a job, keep the
job, and then the third thing is to try to help them get a better
job and have mortgages and car payments just like the rest of us,”
said Wiggins.
Chrysalis was one of three service organizations
including Westside Foodbank, and Step Up on 2nd Street that received
$5,000 grants for their continued service and dedication.
The grants were made possible as a result of
the continued support of the community and their donations to the
Dolphin Change Program.
Over the past eight years $100,000 has been collected
in quarters, nickels, and dimes, and then redistributed throughout
the community in organizations such as these.
The Special Civic Recognition Award was presented
to Fred Deni owner of “Back on Broadway and Back on the Beach.”
Deni has helped the homeless and downtrodden
of Santa Monica for more than 20 years.
Whether it is the way in which he so generously
provides annual Thanksgiving meals, or how he rises to the occasion
and provides comfort and food to thousands as he did after the 1994
Northridge earthquake, his compassion does not go unnoticed. Although
unable to attend the ceremonies he issued the following remarks.
“If people understood what a remarkable high they could get
from giving, there’d be no way to stop them from going out
and being of service all the time.” |
