Pacific House will hold its 9th Annual Dessert and Chocolate Tasting Event on Friday, March 31 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich. In an example of young adults helping young adults, students from Brunswick School, Greenwich Academy, Greenwich Country Day and Sacred Heart Greenwich will perform in “To Each His Home,” a benefit concert that will help raise funds for the new Pacific House Young Adult program.
“This event will make a meaningful difference for those young adults who have nowhere to call home,” said Rafael Pagan Jr., Executive Director of Pacific House. “Attendees will enjoy chocolate and music, and will also feel good knowing they’re helping kids in need.”
Last year, Pacific House, a Stamford-based nonprofit organization that operates an emergency shelter for men and young adults from Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, New Canaan and beyond, began a Young Adult Program in response to the significant number of young adults they were seeing coming into the shelter. These young men, ages 18-24, have nowhere to live and are currently calling the shelter home. Whether they’re still in high school and doing their homework at the shelter each day, or getting help with support services, the Pacific House Young Adult Program connects these kids with housing, employment, education and services that can prevent a lifetime of homelessness.
“The problem is bigger than we initially realized, said Andrew Barer, Director of Development & Communications for Pacific House. “We’ve hired a specialized case manager, initiated new programs, and created a dedicated living space for these kids at the shelter, and the spots were quickly filled. This event is a great way to raise awareness about the program and empower kids to help their peers, all while giving the community an enjoyable evening with friends and neighbors.”
Guests will leave the event with a hand-made cookie by Janie Bakes of New York City. The sweet creations are baked by owner Janie Deegan, herself a survivor of homelessness in her early twenties. “I’m thrilled to participate in this event which is closely connected to my own experience,” said the entrepreneur who also teaches baking to underprivileged and homeless children.
Pacific House would like to thank the evening’s generous event sponsors: Olympus Partners, Debby & Mark Blackman, Harbor Point, Stamford Hospital Foundation, First County Bank, The Fred & Joan Weisman Fund, The Francis J. Connor Family, NEBCO, Purdue Pharma, L.P., Shoprite and Laurence & Michelle Allen, as well as media partners: Fairfield County Look, Stamford Magazine, 95.9 the Fox, CTbites and Hey Stamford. Additional thanks are extended to all the schools and students who are participating in the event, those schools include: Brunswick School, Darien High School, Greenwich Academy, Greenwich Country Day, Greenwich High School, King School, Sacred Heart Greenwich and Stamford High School.
Please plan to join this special evening to help end young adult homelessness. Tickets begin at $50, and may be purchased by visiting pacifichouse.org/dessert-and-music-event or by texting ‘sweets’ to 88202.
