HomeAid held its 14th annual HomeAid Amazing Ladies’ Organization (HALO) luncheon on November 4 at The Westin/Memorial City. In a triumphant return to in-person after two years of virtual luncheons, this year’s “Finding the Way Home” event surpassed expectations. More than 530 women (and several gentlemen), representing a variety of industries and professions filled the ballroom to max capacity. This sold-out event raised more than $160,000, a record for this charity luncheon.
Guests enjoyed some retail therapy prior to the luncheon, with a Kendra Scott pop-up shop. Her on-trend jewelry designs were a hit with the attendees (and just in time for holiday shopping!). Twenty percent of the proceeds benefited HomeAid Houston, adding to the event’s already-record-breaking bottom line.
“The HALO luncheon brought together more than 500 of Houston’s finest women with very generous hearts, who are passionate about community and our cause,” said McCalle Fryar, chair of the HALO Committee and a HomeAid board member. “We all left inspired to continue our efforts to help those less fortunate ‘find the way home.’ We cannot thank our many sponsors and donors enough for making this 14th year such a huge success.”
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Leading the program was emcee Cindy Hinson, HomeAid past president and director of product development at Lennar | Village Builders. Additional speakers included event founder Toy Wood; Aimee Bertrand, executive vice president and CEO of the Greater Houston Builders Association; and Carole Brady, executive director of HomeAid Houston.
The highlight of the program was the intimate and uplifting stories shared by the guest speakers – three women who have transitioned out of crisis situations and are realizing their own personal journey of ‘Finding the Way Home.’ Honored guests included a woman from Compassion United who found herself in need of guidance and help after a traumatic event changed her journey home. Another young lady, through her spokeswoman, shared her lifelong journey through the foster care system and her triumph in finding her forever home with Forgotten Angels. Guests also heard from a young mother struggling to get back on her feet who began working with Abigail’s Place earlier this year and has since blazed a trail of finding her way home.
“HomeAid has continued to reinvent itself to address current challenges and target their services to those who need it most. This hallmark event provided an up close and personal look at what it means to be homeless, and how the agencies we partner with have changed their lives,” said Cindy Hinson. “The ongoing support of the sponsors, underwriters, and donors of the luncheon is crucial to carry out the mission. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank all our guests and sponsors for helping us put on the largest HALO event to date.”
How it all began:
Over a decade ago, Toy Wood, then GHBA CEO, invited six women to a lunch held in the kitchen of one of HomeAid’s homeless care agencies. Her vision was to build a core of accomplished females who would share in HomeAid’s mission ‘to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness build new lives through construction, community engagement, and education.’ Since then HALO has become a hallmark event each year, as the number of attendees and industries represented has grown dramatically.
HomeAid’s HALO Luncheon has raised more than half a million dollars since that lunch, but the vision is still the same, and the heart of what defines HALO remains. HALO aims to inspire more women within all industries to join the challenge in giving hope to Houston’s homeless community by making HomeAid Houston their personal charity of choice.
HomeAid Appreciates the Generous Gifts from its 2022 Supporters
EVERLASTING HOPE $2,500+
Kathy Britton, Kristal Casey, Christina Cole, McCalle Fryar, Lisa Gentry, Lana Herff, Ivan Madrigal, Brenda Martin, Edward Martin, Hannah Montgomery, Lindy Oliva, Lorrie Parise, Michael Reamer, Toy Wood
GUARDIAN ANGELS $1,000+
Aimee Bertrand, Lisa Clark, Toner Kersting, Kendall McDermott, Anthea Moran, Larissa Poindexter, Dana Rodgers, Tasha Steiner, Jennifer Taylor, Greg Tomlinson, Rebecca Ullman, Alia Vinson, Laurie Wilson, Jane Wise
CIRCLE OF FRIENDS $500+
Kena Aagesen, Susan Edwards, Cathleen Falke, Julie Gerdes, Steve Goodman, Cynthia Hoelscher, Nicole Jacob, Shelly Jenks, Rivers LeGrand, Elizabeth McDaniel, Casey Morgan, Leigh Ann Smith
ANGEL WINGS $250+
Renee Agonis, Corinne Branch, Kelsie Burke, Sherry Burton, Bradley Castillo, Brandi Coatsworth, Ainsley Curry, Kari Federico, Lisbeth Geis, Brooke Gentry, Dominic Giuliano, Jessica Goehring, Cynthia Hinson, Leslie Keen, Brannon King, D’Nita Kuhn-Stanfield, Michael Kuchar, Martina Lemon-Dixon, Diane Lund, Theresa McCampbell, Bette Moser, Lora Poe, Crystal Robinson, Kim Sachtleben, Brenda Simmons, Lindsey Woodard, Faye Wyatt