October 11, 2000
MEDIA/ PHOTO ADVISORY
RECORDING ARTIST TO OFFICIALLY OPEN NEW HOMELESS VETERANS FACILITY IN BOSTON
Irish Tenors star and Leading Veterans Advocate to Present $17,355 from the Hope McDermott Fund for the Opening of a New Service Center for Homeless Veterans
BOSTON, MA - John McDermott will be the attending the opening of the Hope McDermott Day Program Center at the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans and present a donation to help fund its important work. The Hope McDermott Day Program Center, a newly constructed annex of the NESHV, is named in honor of Johnís mother, Hope, who passed away in January, 2000. The goal of the Hope McDermott Day Program Center is to reach out to veterans who are chronically homeless and who are the 'hardest to service' of the homeless veterans. The Day Program Center will provide counseling and living-skills instructions to these veterans, as well as make sure that their basic needs (food, clothing, health care) are satisfied. It is a unique opportunity to fill a gap between the transitional services that the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans currently provides and needs of chronically homeless veterans.
John will be presenting the Hope McDermott Day Program Center with a contribution from his foundation, The Hope McDermott Fund, through which John hopes to initiate and support projects like the Hope McDermott Day Program Center and McDermott House (a transitional housing shelter in Washington, DC named in honor of John McDermott) in other cities throughout the U.S. and Canada. 'Mothersteach you courage and compassion, dignity and humility in equal measure,'says John. 'I honor the memory of my mother by building awareness and compassion for people who have served with courage, and now find themselvesagainst odds greater than any wartime enemy.' To date, the Hope McDermott Fund has received $17,355 in donations from Johnís fans all over the world who believe in Johnís work on behalf of veterans.
WHO: John McDermott; NESHV Executive Director, Thomas J. Lyons; City Counselor Michael Ross; Tom Kelley, Commissioner of Veterans Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and Tom Mattarazo, Commissioner of Veterans Services for the City of Boston
WHAT: Opening of Hope McDermott Day Program Center at the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans and a Presentation of Contribution
WHEN: Thursday, October 12th, 2000 at 2 PM
WHERE: New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans
Boston, MA