Good Neighbor Podcast: Rochester
Bringing Together Local Businesses and Neighbors of Rochester
Good Neighbor Podcast: Rochester
EP# 138 Hearts for Hope Foundation Gala with Claire Imbrunnone
Claire, a devoted volunteer and staunch ally for survivors, joins us to spotlight an event that promises both heart and hope. Shedding light on the Hearts for Hope Foundation Gala, Claire passionately speaks about the pivotal role this Valentine's Day event will play in supporting Turning Point—a key organization in Macomb County dedicated to aiding survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. From live performances by Michael Carluccio to the poignant story of a human trafficking survivor, the evening is bound to be as enriching as it is entertaining. With recent funding cuts threatening Turning Point's essential services, this gala is not just an event but a lifeline for many in need.
On the podcast, Claire underscores the power of community involvement in making a difference. Whether by purchasing tickets, sponsoring a portion of the event, or donating, each action can contribute significantly to the foundation's mission. Businesses are encouraged to step up as sponsors, particularly with necessities like dessert provisions, and individuals can offer support in various ways, no matter how small. Claire’s personal dedication to this cause shines through as she shares her passion for advocacy and stresses that every gesture, big or small, can bring about profound change. Tune in to learn more about how you can contribute to a night of compassion and change this Valentine's Day.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Lisa Swiftney.
Speaker 2:Hi everyone and welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Speaker 1:Today I have.
Speaker 2:Claire and we're going to talk about the Hearts for Hope Foundation Gala coming up. Hi Claire, how are you today?
Speaker 3:Hi, I'm good. So we have this gala coming up on Valentine's Day to benefit Turning Point in Mount Clemens. Are you familiar with Turning Point? I am yes, okay, well, for anybody listening, that isn't. Turning Point is based in Macomb County and they work with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking Men, women, children. They have everybody, they take everybody, they work with everybody, they help everybody, and they actually just sent an email out this morning that their funding was cut. So now more than ever, you know we're really focusing on trying to help them and help them so they can continue helping other people.
Speaker 2:Right, well, yes, so now it's important that we really ramp up this event.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 2:It's going to help so many people. Yeah, yeah, tell us a little bit about the event. When is it, what are you guys looking to achieve and how can we help?
Speaker 3:Well, it is Valentine's Day, so we are looking for people, obviously to fill seats sponsors, obviously to fill seats sponsors. We're looking for, maybe, some guys that haven't made reservations and can't find something. We are looking for friends, we are looking for couples, we're looking for people just to come and support a great cause. We're going to have some fun while we're there. We've got a band, we've got Michael Carluccio singing through dinner and our slow songs. Since it's date night too, there's a premium open bar, there'll be some raffles. It'll be a really nice night.
Speaker 3:And then we also are fortunate enough to have a human trafficking survivor tell her story, which will definitely be moving. Tell her story, which will definitely be moving. And she is so brave Like I can't even express how grateful I am that she has the courage to get up there and tell her story. And she has said that you know, if, if one person, if this can affect one person from going down the path that I I went down and it can protect them, then it's worth it. So I really commend her bravery. That is great. Can I go real quick, okay?
Speaker 2:So tell us a little bit more about sponsors. You said there's sponsorship opportunities, so what are you looking for for sponsors? You're looking for businesses to sponsor the event.
Speaker 3:Yeah, businesses, anybody that wants to show support of the cause. You know they help children, they help women, I mean, they help everybody. But yeah, businesses that want to support. Right now we're looking for a sponsor for desserts. So bakeries, if some I mean we need, we would never turn a sponsor away because any dollar that comes in will help them and if it is, for instance, a dessert, then that saves us from spending on a dessert so we can give Turning Point more money.
Speaker 3:And you know, somebody had mentioned to me the other day when I was calling people, they were bringing them a check and waited for the man to walk out and she said she came up to him and she said, was that a check for a donation? And he said yeah. And she said you know every dollar matters. There were times where I wouldn't even have a toothbrush if it weren't for them. So you know you don't really know everybody's situation, but every little bit helps. So, for instance, on our link, when you go into the link to you know whether it's buy tickets, sponsor or donate there is a button at the very bottom to donate any random amount. It doesn't matter if it's 50 cents, you know they'll take it. It all adds up and you know anything helps support the cause.
Speaker 2:That is great. That's great and Turning Point is such a very important nonprofit in the Macomb County area, oh yeah, so tell us a little bit about yourself and why you feel that this is such a great cause. What is your passion? To be a volunteer for this event?
Speaker 3:to be a volunteer for this event. Well, so many reasons, but I'll try to keep them light. So years ago I went through the first response advocacy program that Turning Point has and for those of you that don't know what that is, they have a program where if a survivor of sexual assault so they have a program. Let me back up. So if somebody is assaulted, the police or the sheriff call Turing Point and they send a first response advocate to meet the survivor at the scene or if they're, wherever they are at that time, and then there is somebody there to advocate for that person, because they just went through a horrible trauma and the last thing they're thinking of is what they're doing next, you know, and they need somebody there to support them and advocate on their behalf. So that started for me years ago, but at the time I had a little one at at home and I didn't really think it through. I can't be on call in the middle of the night because I can't leave in the middle of the night. So they have all these different programs, whether it's a PPO program, which unfortunately, I've known plenty of people that have needed help with getting a PPO against a significant other, former significant other, a stalker, all sorts of things, and they have an office at the courthouse that they can help you get those to protect yourself. They have the shelter program, they have counseling. They have so many things and there's like I said, it's unfortunate but there are so many people.
Speaker 3:If people start to open up and actually talk about things that have happened to them whether they were in a violent relationship or were sexually assaulted you know that these services that they have, these resources that they have, they're needed.
Speaker 3:You may not know somebody talking about Turning Point and they went to Turning Point and Turning Point helps them, but I promise you that you know somebody that has used them.
Speaker 3:They just may not be outright telling you and also think about the support system that that offers you. Or if you talk about it with friends, then maybe the friend that you don't know is going through a domestic violence situation at home or they were assaulted and they don't want to tell anybody because they're embarrassed or for whatever reason. Reason they have resources and the more that it becomes out in the open, the less taboo it gets and the less embarrassed people have to be about what happened to them, because it's not who they are. It's what somebody else did you know, and if it helps you or helps a friend, helps a woman, helps a child, helps our community, you know, stand up for each other, be there for each other, support each other and we need to help support them, because they're there day and night offering these resources. So how can we not get involved and try to help all of these other people that need them?
Speaker 2:Exactly, exactly, and they are such, like I said, a critical nonprofit in our community. So I'm really excited for this and for the event coming up. Why don't you share with our listeners how they can find the event where they need to go and how they can either offer to sponsor or buy tickets?
Speaker 3:Sure, absolutely so. We have an event, bright page. It will be called the Hearts for Hope Foundation event. It's at the Italian American Cultural Center. Get dressed up and grab a friend. Whoever your boss, your partner, whoever you want to do, you can get tickets on there. There's a little button that says get tickets. When you click that button it opens it up to donations, sponsorships or tickets. There are sponsorship levels starting at $250 and go all the way up, and then again there's ticket discounts. The more tickets you purchase, the cheaper the way up, and then again there's ticket discounts. The more tickets you purchase, the cheaper the tickets are. So if you buy one, obviously at one price, then two, the couple prices discounted, and then the cheapest is a table, and again it's dinner, drinks, dessert, dancing, speaker, networking, all of it, everything combined, like-minded people working together to support Turning Point. So again, you can find it at Eventbrite. If you can see my name on the screen, that's my social media. You can find it on there and I have links on my page as well.
Speaker 2:That is great and we will put links into this. Will be on my website as well, so I'll include all of the links on the website with the podcast once we go live.
Speaker 3:Great, thank you.
Speaker 2:Well, Claire, thank you so much for your time today and taking the time to talk with me and getting the word out about the event that is coming up.
Speaker 3:Thank you so much. Thanks for having me on here, thanks for letting me talk about it. I appreciate the platform to be able to do it. So thank you Great.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast Rochester. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnprochestercom. That's gnP Rochestercom, or call 248-988-9640.