[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”4518″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”20″][vc_column_text]On Friday, February 16th Homes 4 Families hosted its annual Hearts for Heroes Builders Ball at the Universal Sheraton Hotel. Awards were presented to Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and H4F Board Member Tom Stemnock. The event was chaired by Karen Brown, Sr. VP/Commercial Lending Team Leader, San Fernando Valley Region, First Bank.
“The Builder’s Ball is our largest fundraising event of the year, and we’re thrilled to bring the community of Los Angeles together to recognize the outstanding work of our deserving award recipients,” said Donna Deutchman, President, and CEO. “Our honorees’ efforts in helping empower our veterans and their families are essential to their transitions back home.”
Dr. Vito Imbasciani, Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), presented an award to Lockheed Martin Skunk Works®. Like Homes 4 Families, Lockheed Martin is committed to enabling transitioning veterans and their families to connect with their communities and find new purpose as they reintegrate into civilian life. Lockheed Martin has a long-standing commitment to successful job transition for America’s veterans and today employs approximately 20,000 veterans. For 75 years, Skunk Works® has built a rich history of aerospace innovation in Los Angeles and is proud to continue its commitment to strengthen the quality of life in the local community.
Homes 4 Families Board Member Tom Stemnock also received an award presented by former California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno. Stemnock is a civil engineer and land use planner with over 40 years of experience in the development of residential, commercial and industrial properties in the City of Los Angeles. He is the owner of Planning Associates, Inc., a professional consulting firm which provides environmental land use planning and development entitlement services to clients for projects in Los Angeles. Stemnock has served on the Board of H4F for 15 years.
A number of elected officials were in attendance as well, including U.S. Congressman Steve Knight, U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman, California Senator Scott Wilk, California Assemblyman Tom Lackey, L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Santa Clarita Mayor Laurene Weste, Santa Clarita Mayor Pro Tem Marsha McLean, L.A. City Councilmember Paul Krekorian, and Santa Clarita City Councilmember Bill Miranda.
Acclaimed singer, writer and actor Brad Sharp sang the National Anthem to open the event, which was hosted by Amy Paffrath (“E! News Now”) and Johnathan Fernandez, one of the co-stars of the hit Fox TV series “Lethal Weapon.” Longtime “Major Crimes” star Tony Denison announced the launch of the organization’s new Celebs4Vets initiative which will kick off on March 10th with its first-ever Celebs4Vets Build. Celebrities comprising teams from ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC, as well as an All-Stars team, will raise money while spending the day building the remaining 18 homes of a 78-home Veteran Enriched Neighborhood® for low-income veterans and their families.
Mark “Bubba” Johnson, an Army veteran and single father of three, who will soon be moving into one of the new homes in the Veteran Enriched Neighborhood®, also spoke about his experience as a veteran and the impact his new home will have for his family.
The Builders Ball featured Homes 4 Families announcements, a live auction, dinner, and a new video for the organization narrated by Oscar-winner Keith Carradine, a member of the organization’s Celebs4Vets group.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”4531,4530,4529,4528,4527,4526,4525,4524,4523,4522,4521,4520,4519,4518,4517,4516,4515,4514″ layout=”3″ masonry_style=”true” gallery_style=”5″ load_in_animation=”fade_in”][/vc_column][/vc_row]