The 2011 - 4th annual SPIRIT OF HOPE event successfully raised $125,500 for "Gini's House", supportive housing for pregnant and parenting mothers in recovery that will be developed in Norwalk.  Bob Bantle presented a gift to Alan Mathis that will be used for the project, named for his mother Virginia, and championed by his father, Louis Bantle.  Governor Dannel Malloy presented former Connecticut Senator and Current General Counsel to the Governor, Andrew McDonald with the Spirit of Hope award for his commitment and work in making our community a better place.  Special Guest Speaker Michele Mason, left not a dry eye in the house as she told her story about coming into Liberation's Families in Recovery program with a raggedy old suitcase and now, 15 years later she has a full set of luggage.

Spirit of Hope Co-chairs were Sherry Sopin and Elizabeth Needham. The event was made possible by the generous private and corporate sponsors:  Platinum Sponsor: The William H. Pitt Foundation; Gold Sponsors: Pitney Bowes Inc., Pullman & Comley LLC; Silver Sponsors: Cohen and Wolf P.C., eBenefits Group Northeast LLC, Liberation Programs' Executive Team, Mort & Eleanor Lowenthal, Alan & Melissa Mathis, RDM Financial Group, Inc.; Circle of Friends: Mr. Hayes Anderson & Dr. Pamela Frazier-Anderson, Dr. Robert & Gloria Aslanian, Scott & Allison Frantz, Alice Melly, Dennis & Donna Monson, Ed & Marianne Pollak, Stamford Hospital Foundation, Dr. & Mrs. Michael Urban.

Photos from 2011 Spirit of Hope below:

 Spirit of Hope Award Recipient Andrew McDonald of Stamford

Liberation Programs' President & CEO Alan Mathis, received a gift of $75,000 from Bob Bantle and the Bantle Family
(of Cos Cob) to develop "Gini's House" supportive housing for single mothers in recovery. 

(Click on the image above to see additional photos)

2011 Spirit of Hope Sponsors

WE THANK OUR SPONSORS
WITHOUT WHOM
THIS EVENT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE

SPECIAL RECOGNITION 

THE BANTLE/WALKER FAMILIES

PLATINUM

WILLIAM H. PITT FOUNDATION

GOLD

VICKI and DAVID CRAVER

PITNEY BOWES, INC.

PULLMAN & COMLEY LLC

SILVER

COHEN and WOLF, P.C. 

eBENEFITS GROUP NORTHEAST, LLC

ICY and SCOTT FRANTZ

LIBERATION PROGRAMS' EXECUTIVE TEAM

MORT and ELEANOR LOWENTHAL

ALAN and MELISSA MATHIS

RDM FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

MR. HAYES ANDERSON &
DR. PAMELA FRAZIER-ANDERSON

DR. ROBERT & MRS. GLORIA ASLANIAN

PETER MARK and ELIZABETH NEEDHAM

ALICE P. MELLY

DENNIS & DONNA MONSON

PEOPLE'S UNITED BANK

ED & MARIANNE POLLAK

STAMFORD HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

MICHAEL AND BROOK URBAN