Operation Nightwatch Seattle - Events

Events - Hero of the Homeless Luncheon

Everyone wants to make a difference.

The difference is, some people actually do.

Join us at noon on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 as we honor a real-life super hero. Come to the Seattle Center Rainier Room, enjoy a box lunch and be there when they are presented with her red Hero's cape.

Hero of the Homeless Luncheon

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Noon to 1:00pm

Seattle Center Rainier Room

In addition to raising much-needed funding for a dedicated women's shelter, you can help Nightwatch service another area of growing need: the working poor. Many homeless men and women actually work but do not make enough money to cover rent. For them, Nightwatch provides a safety net that gets them off the street and gives them a safe place to stay.

There is no charge to attend the luncheon, however RSVPs are required due to space limitations. For more information, please call (206) 323 4359.

View past heros:

Hero 2007

Mindy Shivers

A Hero is someone who doesnt' just stand on the sidelines but jumps in and gets involved. That's Mindy Shivers.

In 2006, Nightwatch was turning away an increasing number of women because the shelters were full. When Mindy learned that Nightwatch had a goal to open a women's emergency shelter, she took up the cause. Since then, Mindy's tireless fundraising efforts and inspiration have helped raise thousands of dollars for the shelter. Mindy took the initiative and got involved. That's what makes her Hero of the Homeless.

Hero 2006

Joe Martin

Joe found his life's calling at the Pike Market Medical Clinic, where he works to help needy people who line up outside his door. He's able to work through all manor of obstacles, from helping to find housing, to locating food sources, to aiding with the paperwork maze required to get government support and well beyond.

He has been active with the Seattle Displacement Coalition, Operation Homestead, Mental Health Task Force of the Church Council of Greater Seattle. In 2004, the Low Income Housing Institute honored Joe by naming their 41-unit transitional housing program in Georgetown "Martin Court."

Heroes 2005

Tony & Sharon Lee

Tony has been a voice for the poor and homeless as Advocacy Director for the Fremont Public Association, Legislative Director of the Washington Association of Churches and research associate for the Justice & Peace Center of the Archdiocese of Seattle.

Sharon is the Executive Director of the Low Income Housing Institue (LIHI), which has developed over 3,000 units of low-income housing. LIHI also operates the Urban Rest Stop, which provides showers, restrooms and laundry facilities to homeless individuals.

A dynamic team together and two powerful voices individually, Tony and Sharon are indeed Heroes of the Homeless.

Hero 2004

Kay Abe, the Lord's Table Ministry

Kay Abe has fed the homeless since 1991. With total reliance on God's provision, she leads groups in preparing and serving a hot meal outdoors downtown, rain or shine, four nights a week. Her humble spirit, giving heart and commitment to the hungry have inspired hundreds of others to join in service to the needy. Those she serves have come to call her "Mama" out of appreciation for her nurture of body and spirit. Kay named her meal program "The Lord's Table," in recognition of her source of strength and supply. Humbly, she directs all glory to God.

Hero 2003

Deacon Joe Curtis, St. James Cathedral

Deacon Joe Curtis, minister to the homeless from St. James Cathedral, has been involved with homeless people for over 20 years. Deacon Joe has provided a ministry presence at St. Martin de Porres Shelter, worked in the clothing room at Lazarus Day Center, helped found the Matt Talbot Recovery Center, and kept the needs of homeless people before the parishioners of St. James Cathedral. Twice monthly he brings sandwiches and provides volunteers to Operation Nightwatch.

Hero 2002

Seattle City Councilman Peter Steinbrueck

Council President Peter Steinbrueck has taken the lead for support of services and improved coordination of city resources for the neediest of our residents. His Safe Harbors initiative will improve life and help the shrinking public dollars be put to their best use in caring for people.

Heroes 2001

Ken Alhadeff & Dick Patterson

Synergy -- the interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.

It was a new millennium. Ken Alhadeff and Dick Patterson got together for the first time, to talk about Operation Nightwatch, and figure out a way to get things happening.

Their ideas melded, changed, combined, grew. Out of that came the “Hero of the Homeless” luncheon.

Ken Alhadeff has served as event host, emcee, and "pitchman." He has been a passionate supporter, not only of Operation Nightwatch, but many other homeless service providers. His company hosts a women’s shelter (Hammond House), and he and his wife Marleen have provided support and leadership to countless programs serving the poorest of the poor in the community.

Dick Patterson got involved with Operation Nightwatch when the current building was purchased in 1999. He led the way through the confusing days of demolition and construction of the Operation Nightwatch shelter dispatch center. His stamp on our organization is seen in the quality of the space used to serve homeless people. His “big picture” and drive led to the launch and early success of the “Hero of the Homeless” program.

Dick and Ina Lou Spady, owner Dick's Drive-Ins

We met Dick Spady at a men's breakfast at his church about 1995. Since then Dick's Drive-Ins have provided 125 fresh cheeseburgers three times a week for our homeless friends. Additionally, each restaurant collects spare change from customers. Dick's matches these donations and divides the money between six different agencies serving homeless people. Dick and Ina Lou are fabulous assets to the community and have wide ranging interests.

Hero 2000

Ron Sims, King County Executive

County Executive Sims served for 10 years as a lay minister on the street from his church, Mount Zion Baptist. He would don a clerical collar once a month and go to the toughest areas of downtown Seattle, engaging street drunks and gang members in conversation.

Executive Sims has said, "Besides marrying my wife, and the birth of my children, nothing I have ever done has affected me like my involvement with Operation Nightwatch."

http://www.metrokc.gov/exec/

P.O Box 21181 . Seattle, WA 98111 . 206-323-4359