EP# 138 Hearts for Hope Foundation Gala with Claire Imbrunnone

Claire, a devoted volunteer and staunch ally for survivors, joins us to spotlight an event that promises both heart and hope. Shedding light on the Hearts for Hope Foundation Gala, Claire passionately speaks about the pivotal role this Valentine's Day event will play in supporting Turning Point—a key organization in Macomb County dedicated to aiding survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. From live performances by Michael Carluccio to the poignant story of a human trafficking survivor, the evening is bound to be as enriching as it is entertaining. With recent funding cuts threatening Turning Point's essential services, this gala is not just an event but a lifeline for many in need.

On the podcast, Claire underscores the power of community involvement in making a difference. Whether by purchasing tickets, sponsoring a portion of the event, or donating, each action can contribute significantly to the foundation's mission. Businesses are encouraged to step up as sponsors, particularly with necessities like dessert provisions, and individuals can offer support in various ways, no matter how small. Claire’s personal dedication to this cause shines through as she shares her passion for advocacy and stresses that every gesture, big or small, can bring about profound change. Tune in to learn more about how you can contribute to a night of compassion and change this Valentine's Day.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Lisa Swiftney.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Hi everyone and welcome to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
Today I have.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Claire and we're going to talk about the Hearts
for Hope Foundation Gala comingup.
Hi Claire, how are you today?

Speaker 3 (00:25):
Hi, I'm good.
So we have this gala coming upon Valentine's Day to benefit
Turning Point in Mount Clemens.
Are you familiar with TurningPoint?
I am yes, okay, well, foranybody listening, that isn't.
Turning Point is based inMacomb County and they work with
survivors of domestic violence,sexual assault and human

(00:47):
trafficking Men, women, children.
They have everybody, they takeeverybody, they work with
everybody, they help everybody,and they actually just sent an
email out this morning thattheir funding was cut.
So now more than ever, you knowwe're really focusing on trying
to help them and help them sothey can continue helping other

(01:12):
people.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
Right, well, yes, so now it's important that we
really ramp up this event.

Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yes.

Speaker 2 (01:20):
It's going to help so many people.
Yeah, yeah, tell us a littlebit about the event.
When is it, what are you guyslooking to achieve and how can
we help?

Speaker 3 (01:33):
Well, it is Valentine's Day, so we are
looking for people, obviously tofill seats sponsors, obviously
to fill seats sponsors.
We're looking for, maybe, someguys that haven't made
reservations and can't findsomething.
We are looking for friends, weare looking for couples, we're

(01:53):
looking for people just to comeand support a great cause.
We're going to have some funwhile we're there.
We've got a band, we've gotMichael Carluccio singing
through dinner and our slowsongs.
Since it's date night too,there's a premium open bar,
there'll be some raffles.
It'll be a really nice night.

(02:14):
And then we also are fortunateenough to have a human
trafficking survivor tell herstory, which will definitely be
moving.
Tell her story, which willdefinitely be moving.
And she is so brave Like Ican't even express how grateful
I am that she has the courage toget up there and tell her story

(02:35):
.
And she has said that you know,if, if one person, if this can
affect one person from goingdown the path that I I went down
and it can protect them, thenit's worth it.
So I really commend her bravery.
That is great.
Can I go real quick, okay?

Speaker 2 (02:57):
So tell us a little bit more about sponsors.
You said there's sponsorshipopportunities, so what are you
looking for for sponsors?
You're looking for businessesto sponsor the event.

Speaker 3 (03:08):
Yeah, businesses, anybody that wants to show
support of the cause.
You know they help children,they help women, I mean, they
help everybody.
But yeah, businesses that wantto support.
Right now we're looking for asponsor for desserts.
So bakeries, if some I mean weneed, we would never turn a
sponsor away because any dollarthat comes in will help them and

(03:31):
if it is, for instance, adessert, then that saves us from
spending on a dessert so we cangive Turning Point more money.
And you know, somebody hadmentioned to me the other day
when I was calling people, theywere bringing them a check and
waited for the man to walk outand she said she came up to him

(03:56):
and she said, was that a checkfor a donation?
And he said yeah.
And she said you know everydollar matters.
There were times where Iwouldn't even have a toothbrush
if it weren't for them.
So you know you don't reallyknow everybody's situation, but
every little bit helps.
So, for instance, on our link,when you go into the link to you

(04:23):
know whether it's buy tickets,sponsor or donate there is a
button at the very bottom todonate any random amount.
It doesn't matter if it's 50cents, you know they'll take it.
It all adds up and you knowanything helps support the cause
.

Speaker 2 (04:33):
That is great.
That's great and Turning Pointis such a very important
nonprofit in the Macomb Countyarea, oh yeah, so tell us a
little bit about yourself andwhy you feel that this is such a
great cause.
What is your passion?
To be a volunteer for thisevent?

Speaker 3 (04:57):
to be a volunteer for this event.
Well, so many reasons, but I'lltry to keep them light.
So years ago I went through thefirst response advocacy program
that Turning Point has and forthose of you that don't know
what that is, they have aprogram where if a survivor of
sexual assault so they have aprogram.

(05:18):
Let me back up.
So if somebody is assaulted,the police or the sheriff call
Turing Point and they send afirst response advocate to meet
the survivor at the scene or ifthey're, wherever they are at
that time, and then there issomebody there to advocate for
that person, because they justwent through a horrible trauma

(05:42):
and the last thing they'rethinking of is what they're
doing next, you know, and theyneed somebody there to support
them and advocate on theirbehalf.
So that started for me yearsago, but at the time I had a
little one at at home and Ididn't really think it through.
I can't be on call in themiddle of the night because I
can't leave in the middle of thenight.
So they have all thesedifferent programs, whether it's

(06:06):
a PPO program, whichunfortunately, I've known plenty
of people that have needed helpwith getting a PPO against a
significant other, formersignificant other, a stalker,
all sorts of things, and theyhave an office at the courthouse
that they can help you getthose to protect yourself.
They have the shelter program,they have counseling.

(06:30):
They have so many things andthere's like I said, it's
unfortunate but there are somany people.
If people start to open up andactually talk about things that
have happened to them whetherthey were in a violent
relationship or were sexuallyassaulted you know that these
services that they have, theseresources that they have,

(06:52):
they're needed.
You may not know somebodytalking about Turning Point and
they went to Turning Point andTurning Point helps them, but I
promise you that you knowsomebody that has used them.
They just may not be outrighttelling you and also think about
the support system that thatoffers you.
Or if you talk about it withfriends, then maybe the friend

(07:16):
that you don't know is goingthrough a domestic violence
situation at home or they wereassaulted and they don't want to
tell anybody because they'reembarrassed or for whatever
reason.
Reason they have resources andthe more that it becomes out in
the open, the less taboo it getsand the less embarrassed people
have to be about what happenedto them, because it's not who

(07:39):
they are.
It's what somebody else did youknow, and if it helps you or
helps a friend, helps a woman,helps a child, helps our
community, you know, stand upfor each other, be there for
each other, support each otherand we need to help support them
, because they're there day andnight offering these resources.

(08:00):
So how can we not get involvedand try to help all of these
other people that need them?

Speaker 2 (08:09):
Exactly, exactly, and they are such, like I said, a
critical nonprofit in ourcommunity.
So I'm really excited for thisand for the event coming up.
Why don't you share with ourlisteners how they can find the
event where they need to go andhow they can either offer to

(08:31):
sponsor or buy tickets?

Speaker 3 (08:33):
Sure, absolutely so.
We have an event, bright page.
It will be called the Heartsfor Hope Foundation event.
It's at the Italian AmericanCultural Center.
Get dressed up and grab afriend.
Whoever your boss, your partner, whoever you want to do, you
can get tickets on there.
There's a little button thatsays get tickets.

(08:54):
When you click that button itopens it up to donations,
sponsorships or tickets.
There are sponsorship levelsstarting at $250 and go all the
way up, and then again there'sticket discounts.
The more tickets you purchase,the cheaper the way up, and then
again there's ticket discounts.
The more tickets you purchase,the cheaper the tickets are.
So if you buy one, obviously atone price, then two, the couple

(09:17):
prices discounted, and then thecheapest is a table, and again
it's dinner, drinks, dessert,dancing, speaker, networking,
all of it, everything combined,like-minded people working
together to support TurningPoint.
So again, you can find it atEventbrite.
If you can see my name on thescreen, that's my social media.

(09:39):
You can find it on there and Ihave links on my page as well.

Speaker 2 (09:44):
That is great and we will put links into this.
Will be on my website as well,so I'll include all of the links
on the website with the podcastonce we go live.

Speaker 3 (09:55):
Great, thank you.

Speaker 2 (09:58):
Well, Claire, thank you so much for your time today
and taking the time to talk withme and getting the word out
about the event that is comingup.

Speaker 3 (10:08):
Thank you so much.
Thanks for having me on here,thanks for letting me talk about
it.
I appreciate the platform to beable to do it.
So thank you Great.

Speaker 1 (10:17):
Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast
Rochester.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to gnprochestercom.
That's gnP Rochestercom, orcall 248-988-9640.