A Safe Haven Foundation Honors Illinois Top Military Leaders At Chicagoland’s Largest Holiday Benefit for Homeless Veterans

Chicago, IL — A Safe Haven Foundation, along with some of Chicago’s most prominent Veteran leaders and advocates, will be honoring Rear Admiral James M. Galloway, M.D., FACP, FACC, Assistant Surgeon General, Regional Health Administrator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Howard O. Robinson, Senior Enlist Leader and State Command Sergeant Major for the Illinois National Guard, for their outstanding leadership in the community at the A Safe Haven Inaugural Holiday Benefit event.

The event, supporting homeless veterans who reside at a Safe Haven, will be held on Monday, December 10, 2012, from 5:30 p.m., to 9:30 p.m., at the Union League Club, 65 W. Jackson, Chicago, Illinois. Donations will be requested, not required.

The emcee for the event is Rob Johnson, CBS news personality, and entertainment is being generously donated by musical performers Louie Zagoras and Charlie Brown. The event will also feature heavy hors d’oeuvres and silent and live auctions. One hundred percent of the proceeds raised will directly benefit homeless veterans in need — right here at home.

The Co-Chairs for the A Safe Haven Foundation Veterans Holiday Celebration event include prominent, civic-minded leaders and Veteran advocates; namely, Peter Amarantos, Brian Clauss, Tregg Duerson and Michael Favia.

“I have made it a focus to recognize the many contributions of our veterans. In doing so, I have become aware of the current epidemic of homelessness among our veteran heroes often arising from the mental and physical wounds they received while serving our country. A Safe Haven is widely recognized for its success in helping these veterans transform their lives from homelessness to self-sufficiency with pride and purpose,” said Michael Favia, President of the John Marshall Law School Alumni Association and event co-chair.

The celebration is also supported by over 100 renowned and honored special guests and host committee members who currently include leaders from various constituencies, including: business, veterans, entertainment, professional athletes, academic, and bi-partisan legislative leaders from across the state of Illinois. In addition, prominent business and veteran leaders from other states like Florida, Indiana and Massachusetts will also be joining Chicago’s finest leaders in solidarity for the celebration.

“Brian Rowland, military veteran, the entire host committee and I are excited to recognize these outstanding individuals for their leadership. We are also incredibly humbled and honored that A Safe Haven Foundation has been selected as the beneficiary of this incredibly wonderful gathering of amazing people that we have had the pleasure of knowing and to have personally witnessed first-hand their own commitments to ending homelessness for our nation’s heroes each in their own way,” said Neli Vazquez-Rowland, co-founder of A Safe Haven. “It is through their collective dedication and commitment to this cause that this event is coming to fruition and making the idea of ending homelessness in the Chicagoland area a unified effort of public and private engagement a realistic goal.”

“This year we are grateful for the new forms of support, like donations in lieu of wedding gifts from newlyweds or religious celebrations that elect to support our organization. We are so thankful for all of our community members who support this cause. Some companies are turning their holiday parties and work functions into charitable events that help our residents during the winter season when they need it most,” stated Vazquez-Rowland.

For more information about this holiday fundraiser visit: https://www.asafehaven.org/