Horizon House Heritage Society event features guest speaker Paul Lambros, Executive Director of Plymouth Housing
In November, 58 Heritage Society members gathered in Anderson Hall for the annual Horizon House Heritage Society event. The Heritage Society was established in 2004 to recognize those who include Horizon House in their planned giving. Planned Gifts go to support our Residents Assistance Endowment. The Endowment is a permanent and stable source of funding for Residents Assistance each year. Residents Assistance helps ensure that all residents have peace of mind knowing they can remain in the care and comfort of Horizon House. In 2017, about $700,000 was paid out in Residents Assistance.
John Carrington, harpist with the Pacific Northwest Ballet, provided uplifting harp music for this festive occasion. Horizon House Executive Chef Ray Haynes and the Dining Services team provided an elegant and delicious assortment of hors d’oeuvres, dinner, desserts, and fine wines and beers that were all excellent. Thomasi Boselawa provided a stunning floral arrangement at the head serving table.
CEO of Horizon House Sara McVey, who was the Emcee, welcomed everyone and introduced Paul Lambros as our featured speaker. He is the Executive Director of Plymouth Housing where he has served for 25 years. Paul spoke about the crisis around homelessness and how the crisis has changed to now include more homeless families with children. He shared how Plymouth Housing has been working since 1980 to address homelessness in the Seattle area and now has 16 different properties providing low income housing for men, women, and children.
Paul emphasized that Horizon House residents have played a very significant and influential role with Plymouth Housing over the years. In fact, the vision and early work of Plymouth Housing was initiated and pursued by David Colwell back in 1980 when he was the pastor for Plymouth Congregational Church. David and his wife Catherine later became residents of Horizon House and lived here many years before passing.
Horizon House’s longtime past residents Langdon and Anne Simons were major supporters of Plymouth Housing and were honored with the naming of the Langdon and Anne Simons Senior Apartments. Sylvia Odom, another past resident, was a dedicated and tireless member on the Board for many years with Plymouth Housing, and before she died, she was honored when they named the newest property the Sylvia Odom’s Place. Finally, on the third Wednesday of every month, a number of Horizon House residents come together with Charlene Hutchinson, Philanthropy Campaign Manager, and provide a wonderful lunch at the Simons Apartments. This has been going on for years.
The evening recognizing the Heritage Society was inspiring and enjoyed by all. Betty Wagner, resident and Heritage Society member, sums it up best: “I’m pleased to live in this place where caring for, and about, one another and others is central to our theme.”
This annual event has become a real celebration as we honor our Heritage Society members who have made a special legacy gift to the Horizon House Endowment. For more information about the Heritage Society or planned giving, please contact Ruth-Anne Ford, Philanthropy Endowment Manager, at ruth-annef@horizonhouse.org or 206-957-2440.
You must be logged in to post a comment.