Mercy House Set for 9th Annual "Living With Heart" Gala

SANTA ANA, CA, April 19, 2014

Mercy House, one of Southern California's premier advocates of the homeless, today announced that it's 9th annual fundraising gala, Living with Heart, will be held at the Fairmont, Newport Beach Hotel on Saturday, May 3, 2014.

This year's fundraiser will focus on the accomplishments that the agency has achieved over the past year, including serving nearly 5,000 individuals across Orange and San Bernardino Counties. During the evening, emphasis will be placed on the individuals whose stories are included in those numbers, and whose lives have been transformed by the work of Mercy House.

This year, Mercy House celebrates 24 years of serving the homeless," said Executive Director Larry Haynes. " Our success is the direct result of the contributions of my Board, staff, community partners and supporters who work diligently to help us achieve our goal of ending homelessness. I would especially like to thank our media sponsor OC Register Magazine for their generous support. Please join us as we raise funds for homes, programs and services for our neighbors in need, and have a wonderful time doing it!"

The evening will begin on the terrace for cocktails, hors oeuvres and a silent auction, that will be accomplished using cell phone technology, and then into the ballroom for dinner and the program. Bill Rogers, familiar to all as "the Voice of Disneyland," will serve as master of ceremonies.

After dinner, guests will enjoy a stellar outdoor evening soiree featuring special interactive dessert bars and live entertainment from accomplished and versatile producer, composer and musician Terry Wollman and acclaimed songstress, Melanie Taylor.

Terry Wollman has recorded and performed with dozens of renowned artists including Billy Preston, The 5th Dimension, Wilson Phillips, Al Jarreau, Joan Baez, Joe Walsh, Keb' Mo', Gerald Albright and Eartha Kitt.

As one of Bette Midler's infamous and legendary Harlettes for nearly a decade, Melanie Taylor has been seen twirling and singing on the Emmy Award-Winning HBO Special Diva Las Vegas, as well as a 6-week sold-out engagement at Radio City Music Hall, and in a millennium photo essay in Rolling Stone magazine. Melanie has been a featured vocalist on tours, TV, and shared the stage with such artists as John Mayer, Barry Manilow, Stevie Wonder, Sarah McLachlan and Aerosmith.

Santa Ana, Calif.-based Mercy House is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that provides housing and comprehensive supportive services for some of the most vulnerable homeless populations including families, adult men and women, mothers and their children, persons living with HIV/AIDS, and veterans. Seeing the need in our community to serve the poor and the homeless, Mercy House was founded in 1988 by Father Jerome T. Karcher. Over the past 24 years Father Karcher, together with the leadership of Larry Haynes, Mercy House's first employee and only executive director, has not ceased to see the needs in the community. What was once an agency helping 10 men with one transitional shelter, has grown to serve nearly 5,000 individuals in need last year, and has expanded to include five transitional housing facilities, emergency shelter and services, homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing, and service enriched permanent housing facilities for individuals and families with low income. Visit http://www.mercyhouse.net.