The scenic Shoreby Club in Bratenahl drew about 230 people to the Lake Erie shore for the fifth annual Embrace Gala on Sept. 20. The benefit aids the ministry of Zelie’s Home, a community where homeless pregnant and parenting women thrive as they embrace motherhood. There are two locations for Zelie’s Home: Garfield Heights and Lakewood.
“We had a record-breaking event,” said Erin Hathaway, executive director of Zelie’s Home. “People were super generous this year.”
Although the final tally isn’t known yet, Hathaway expects it will be greater than what last year’s gala raised. “This year’s fund-a-need campaign raised more than $100,000,” Hathaway said, adding her gratitude for the generosity.
Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour on the lakefront before heading into the new building where dinner was served. They had an opportunity to peruse silent auction items that were displayed on the first floor of the club, including gift cards, jewelry, theme items, sports items and more. The popular wine pull also returned this year.
The Shoreby Club is located in a 25-room mansion built in 1890 as the summer home of Samuel Mather. He was the senior partner of Pickands, Mather & Co., an iron ore and Great Lakes shipping firm. Mather also was a founding director of U.S. Steel.
Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost greeted guests, offered a blessing and introduced his “plus one” guest, Mary von Carlowitz, director of the diocesan Office for Human Life. Her office works closely with Zelie’s Home to ensure pregnant women have a safe place to stay and learn needed skills so they can be successful and independent.
This year’s program featured a brief video sharing the story of some women who lived at Zelie’s Home and were able to get their lives back on track.
One, Mary, spent 14 months at Zelie’s Home. She and her two children recently moved into their own place. Hathaway said one of the children was baptized recently at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Parma. “I was honored to be the godmother,” she added.
Angel, another woman featured in the video, went into labor and delivered her baby the night before the gala, Hathaway said. And Celina, the third mom featured, is parenting twins.
Hathaway said there is a great need for the services offered by Zelie’s Home. In fact, both locations are full.
“We have 18 mothers and 16 children living at our two sites,” she said. There are nine mothers and seven children at Celine’s Nest in Lakewood and nine mothers and nine children at Theres’s Nest in Garfield Heights. “Four of the moms are pregnant,” Hathaway added.
A new mother herself, Hathaway got emotional when talking about the ministry of Zelie’s Home.
“The event was very successful and I am so grateful to all the donors,” she said.
Click here to learn more about Zelie’s Home and how to support its needs.