Heading Home Program Raises Record $700,000

BOSTON — The list of those to thank for Heading Home Inc. reaping a record $700,000 at its annual fundraiser last week is a long and diverse roster, from the 18 restaurants who provided a high-end repast to the hundreds of guests who turned out in an effort to raise funds to combat homelessness. Business leaders and philanthropists from all walks of life were on hand for the Heading Home Housewarming soiree, relays Executive Director Thomas Lorello, who also credits staffers Wendy Jacobs and Emily Snowden for pulling off the complicated program “without a hitch” in the second year being held at The State Room at 60 State St.

“It was by far our most successful event yet,” says Lorello, citing high marks in revenues raised and in the number of people who attended. “Wendy and Emily deserve a lot of credit for doing such a tremendous job on it.” At a time when there are 7,000 homeless people in Greater Boston on any given night—a figure exacerbated by the 2008 recession—Lorello says the need is especially critical, but the harsh economy had trickled down to keep the event from reaching its previous high-water mark of $630,000 attained in 2006. The 2011 take was $600,000.

One constant presence in helping Heading Home Inc. through the years has been the real estate industry, according to Lorello, noting it was CBRE/New England principal Andrew Hoar and his wife, Mindy Hoar, at the helm in 2006 when the previous record was attained. And the co-chairs overseeing this year’s program included Charles River Realty Investors principal Brian Kavoogian, who served alongside Goldman Sachs chief Jack Sebastian. Equity Office principal Andrew Maher volunteered as master of ceremonies at the fete.

Other CRE veterans who have been active supporters of Heading Home through the years include developers Jonathan Davis and Robert Beal, architect Marc Margulies and Cushman & Wakefield of New England President Robert E. Griffin Jr., relays Lorello, who also cites trade group NAIOP of Massachusetts for fomenting much of the participation through its annual Heading Home golf tournament that this year is planned for early June. “We really could not be the agency we are were it not for the participation of the real estate industry,” says Lorello. “We are extremely grateful for everything they do for us.”

That assistance does not stop at the annual fundraiser, stresses Lorello, with real estate experts and firms assisting the agency as it develops a recently acquired Dorchester property that will serve as transitional housing. “Whenever we need them, they are there for us,” says Lorello.

The Housewarming Event recruited Boston’s most popular chefs and restaurants to serve up their favorite dishes, with eateries on hand including Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse, Douzo, Grill 23 & Bar and Spiga Ristorante. Another highlight this year was a lively auction that delivered $87,000 on its own. Prizes included a chance to walk the red carpet at an upcoming Hollywood premiere; front row tickets to a Red Sox/Yankees tilt; a $5,000 shopping spree at Shreve, Crump & Low in which CEO David Walker will serve a personal shopping advisor; and three dinner parties for 10 people catered by Jim Solomon, executive chef and owner of The Fireplace.