Nearly 200 people attended MHSA’s annual spring event, Home for Good on May 11th – the largest turnout since 2018!
From Left: Joyce Tavon, MHSA’s Chief Executive Officer, Jim D’Amico, recipient of the Bob Ray Partnership Award, Dr. Danna Mauch recipient of the Rep. Byron Rushing Commitment to Housing Award, State Representative Aaron Michlewitz, House Ways & Means Chair (Democrat – 3rd Suffolk District), recipient of the Canon Brian S. Kelley Public Servant Award, and Ben Josephson, Chair of MHSA’s Board of Directors. Photo by Osa Igiede Photography
Supporters, friends and colleagues from across the Commonwealth and as far away as New York gathered to celebrate this year’s honorees and to raise funds in support of MHSA’s mission to end homelessness in Massachusetts.
The festive event took place at the state-of-the-art multimedia venue, WBUR’s CitySpace on Commonwealth Ave in Boston, home of WBUR Boston.
This year’s honorees included State Representative Aaron Michlewitz, House Ways & Means Chair (Democrat – 3rd Suffolk District), James V. D’Amico, Jr. of Century 21 North East and NewFed Mortgage, and Danna Mauch, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH).
Chair Michlewitz was presented with the Canon Brian S. Kelley Public Servant Award for his allyship with all people experiencing homelessness and the community organizations that serve them. The budget for Fiscal Year 2023 was historic in its scope and in its diversity of responses for the various agencies trying to end homelessness. Throughout his career, just like Canon Kelley, Chair Michlewitz has demonstrated a concern for those who have less, and has worked to create a more just world.
James V. D’Amico, Jr. received the Bob Ray Partnership Award for his work with MHSA, which began in 2008 when MHSA’s new permanent supportive housing program, Journey to Success (JTS), was launched. JTS relied on finding landlords with available units in Chelsea and Revere who would be willing to lease apartments to MHSA to house individuals who had disabling conditions and who were experiencing long-term homelessness. While many landlords said “No” Jim said “YES.” When Jim purchased the Chelsea YMCA in 2017, he honored the long-time lease MHSA had with the former property owner, and – in partnership with MHSA and Bay Cove Human Services – renovated and dedicated the property to serving people in Chelsea who were experiencing homelessness by providing them with permanent housing and supportive services.
Dr. Danna Mauch received the Rep. Byron Rushing Commitment to Housing Award for her advocacy in providing housing resources for people with serious mental illness, resulting in fewer people falling into homelessness, Safe Havens for persons experiencing homelessness, and support of the best practices in housing being implemented to end homelessness.
The event was emceed by Delphia Bizzell, MHSA’s newest member of the Board of Directors, as well as a member of MHSA’s Speakers’ Bureau, where she passionately advocates for people experiencing homelessness.
This year’s high-level sponsors included Raise the Roof Sponsor Eastern Bank, and Turn the Key Sponsors: CSH, Eliot Human Services, Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, Park Lodge Hotel Group, Rasky Partners, and Steve Rosenfeld and Margot Botsford.
MHSA would like to thank all the vendors, raffle donors, sponsors, volunteers, staff, and the many attendees who helped make Home for Good a success!