Transformations _Final_script

15th
Annual Transformations Script – October 3, 2013
EVENT STARTS: 7:00 PM
VOG: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome
DEBORAH GIANOULIS
VIDEO: IMAG
ACTION: DEBORAH GIANOULIS
enter Stage RIGHT to Podium
MIC: Podium
DEBORAH: Good evening everyone and welcome to the 15th
Annual Transformations. I am thrilled to be
here with you as we celebrate 15 years of
transforming lives through the Sulzbacher
Center’s life-changing comprehensive programs.
Those of you who have attended this event
before know to expect an inspiring evening. To all
first time guests, you are in for a memorable
1

experience, too. Tonight’s event is particularly
special, in that we will be focusing on the stories
of military veterans who moved from
homelessness to a new life through the help of
the Sulzbacher Center.
Fittingly, we’d like to start this Transformations
milestone anniversary celebration with an
invocation by Army National Guard, Retired
Lieutenant Colonel, John E. Hugus.
ACTION: DEBORAH exit Stage Right
JOHN H. enter Stage Right to Podium
JOHN H.: Delivers invocation then exit Stage Right.
ACTION: DEBORAH enter Stage Right to Podium
DEBORAH: Thank you, Lt. Hugus. Everyone please rise for
the Mayport Naval Sea Cadets’ presentation of
the colors.
Action: Enter Sea Cadets
DEBORAH: Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance…
2

Lead the Pledge of Allegiance
Action: Exit Sea Cadets
DEBORAH: Everyone please be seated. Tonight’s event
would not have been possible without our
marvelous sponsors. Many thanks to our
Presenting Sponsor, Gary & Nancy Chartrand;
and our Innovation Sponsors, Baptist Health and
Vistakon.
We would also like thank and recognize the Hyatt
Regency Jacksonville Riverfront for being such a
tremendous partner over the years and to Sight
and Sound for their expertise and steadfast
support. Without their generous in-kind
contributions, it would be impossible for us to
host such a spectacular event, befitting of the
occasion and our honored guests. Please know
how grateful we are for you generosity.
The mission of the Sulzbacher Center is close to
my heart. I have seen firsthand the
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transformations that occur when people come to
the Center for help and hope. Tonight YOU will
hear for yourself how the Sulzbacher Center is
helping homeless veterans in our city find the
way home. I have Emceed to this event 12 times
in the past 15 years and am thrilled to be back to
celebrate this special night!
Transformations itself has grown and changed
significantly over the years, just as the services
the Center provides have evolved to meet the
complex and ever-growing needs in our
community. Transformations advanced from
being a fashion show to becoming the exciting
celebration of lives transformed that it is today.
Please turn your attention to the screens to view
a short film that chronicles Transformations
throughout the years. Be sure to pay close
attention because you will see several past
Transformations honorees and learn how they
are doing today.
4

VIDEO: ROLL VIDEO #1 (WITH AUDIO ON VIDEO)
VIDEO: IMAG
MIC: ON VIDEO
DEBORAH: Wasn’t that wonderful? Can you believe so much
has changed over the years? I especially loved
being able to catch up with the past
Transformations stars. At this time I would like to
invite them all onstage to be recognized.
(Introduce each separately)
Anthony Littlejohn and his mother ________,
and Diane Bass
Odjuan Whitfield, could not be here tonight.
The Center has been led by four amazing ladies.
At this time I would like to bring the four
Sulzbacher Center CEO’s to the stage.
(Introduce each separately)
Linda Lanier
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Sherry Burns
Audrey Moran and
Cindy Funkhouser
Let’s give them a hand
I would also like to take a moment to thanks
WJCT’s CreativeworX team Rich Connor and
Gary Saltsgiver, and Evin Willman of Willman
Consulting. They dedicated countless hours of
their time to putting this video together. Their
devotion to this project really shines through in
the finished project. Thank you!
Now, please join me in welcoming John and
Janet Wilbanks, Event Chairs of tonight’s 15th
annual Transformations.
Action: Enter JOHN and JANET WILBANKS
EXIT DEBORAH
JANET: Good Evening and welcome again to
Transformations. I’m Janet Wilbanks.
6

JOHN: And I’m John Wilbanks. It has been such a
privilege for us to serve as chairs of
Transformations this year. I am a proud,
longstanding member of the Board of Directors at
Sulzbacher. Janet and I both strongly believe in
the mission and the life-changing programs and
services offered to homeless men, women, and
children at the Center.
The Sulzbacher Center is truly a beacon of hope
for the most vulnerable among us. This past year,
the Center has served record breaking numbers
of people– many of whom are veterans. People
who turn to us for help often are seeking a safe
place to sleep and a hot meal. But we are so
much more than that. Sulzbacher Center
provides health care, job training, life skills
classes, case management and more. Our
children benefit from high-quality youth programs,
as well as enrichment and learning activities, and
a safe place for play and to just be kids.
7

These impactful services are available because
of the public/private partnerships that support the
Sulzbacher Center – it is your generosity that
helps people get back on their feet and back into
the community as productive citizens.
JANET: Thank you all for being here tonight to support
our mission. I would like to take this opportunity
to thank a few more Transformations sponsors:
Achievement Sponsors:
Fidelity National Financial
the Stellar Foundation and
bestbet Jacksonville
bestbet Orange Park
and some of our Success Sponsors:
The Florida Times-Union
W.C. & Susan Gentry
The Grainger Foundation
Florida Anesthesia Associates
CSX
Prudential
Southeast Toyota
8

St. Vincent’s Healthcare
UF Health
And JM Family Enterprises
A complete list of all Transformations sponsors
can be found in your event program.
JOHN: Speaking of sponsors, as many of you know an
anonymous donor committed to match up to
$50,000 every single donation made to
Transformations from the time of the
announcement in order to get us to our $400,000
goal. We announced that match less than a
month ago and with the support of you our
generous donors we met the Match Challenge
yesterday and are proud to say that we reached
the original $400,000 goal. Thank you to
everyone who donated!
In addition, all the funds raised tonight will act as
a Lead Gift for a new specialized program for
Female Veterans that the Center hopes to open
within the next year. I hope everyone registered
9

their cell phone for tonight’s Silent Auction with
Qtego. You can help us reach our $50,000 goal
for the Female Veterans Dorm by any one of
these three ways:
1. Place a winning Silent Auction bid
2. Purchase an “Insta-Buy” item like a week of
shelter for a homeless female veteran or
3. Simply reply to any Qtego text message with
the word “GIVE” and the amount you would like
to donate.
ACTION: Switch Screen to Qtego monitor
Now let’s all turn our attention to the video screen
to see how much we have raised towards that
$50,000 lead gift and those who have donated
this evening.
I see we have _____ more to go, but with your
support I know we can make it. Thank you. We
will now turn the program back to Deborah.
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ACTION: JOHN and JANET exit Stage Right
DEBORAH enters Stage Right to Podium
DEBORAH: Thank you, John & Janet for all you have done to
help make this evening such a success. And now
for my favorite part of the program - first hand
stories. Tonight we will hear from three special
veterans who came through the Sulzbacher
Center’s program and achieved success.
As many of you know, Sulzbacher Center is a
place of refuge for homeless families. In the past
five years, families have become the fastest
growing segment of the homeless population in
the U.S. And Florida is actually home to 25% of
all homeless families in the nation. Tameka
Atkinson, a Navy Reservist, and her 3
children are just one of the hundreds of families
the Sulzbacher Center has helped find the way
home.
Let's listen to Tameka’s story.
11

VIDEO: IMAG
DEBORAH: Please join me in welcoming Ms. Tameka
Atkinson and her children.
ACTION: TAMEKA AND CHILDREN enter Stage Left to
Center Couch
DEBORAH crosses to Couch with Handheld Mic
MIC: Wireless Handheld from Podium for DEBORAH
ACTION: Interview at Center
DEBORAH: Welcome Tameka. Would you introduce us to
your beautiful children?
TAMEKA: Talking points - Children’s first names and
ages.
DEBORAH: Tameka, tell us a little about your time at the
12

Center and how it helped you get back on your
feet.
TAMEKA: Money management classes and women’s
empowerment and generally fellowships with
other women. They helped me realize I could do
change my life.
DEBORAH: I understand you are preparing to graduate from
school, congratulations! What is next for you?
TAMEKA: Further Education at Kaplan College then Finding
a Job in the Dental Field, retiring from the Navy.
DEBORAH: What about you, kids? What are your favorite
subjects in school? What do you want to be when
you grow up?
Amarion & Amariah: Talking points
13

DEBORAH: Thank you so much for coming this evening. We
wish you and your family all the best for a bright
future.
ACTION: TAMEKA ATKINSON exits Stage Left
DEBORAH crosses to Podium with Handheld Mic
MIC: Podium
DEBORAH: Optional comments on Tameka’s story.
In case you don’t know, last December the
Center opened a specialized Veterans dormitory
and case management program, to be able to
focus on meeting the specific needs of homeless
male veterans. The Center actually contracts and
partners with the Veterans Administration on this
wonderful program. In the coming years the
Center hopes to open a specialized wing for
homeless female veterans, like the young lady
featured in our next story. The second veteran
we will hear from tonight is Kelly Carr, an Army
and National Guard Veteran. Please turn you
14

attention to the screen to listen to Kelly’s story:
VIDEO: IMAG
Everyone, please join me in welcoming to the
stage, Kelly Carr and our Senior Director,
Business Development & Career Education,
Suzanne Bonfanti.
ACTION: Kelly and Suzanne come to the stage, receive
applause, and take their seat on stage LEFT.
DEBORAH: Thank you both so much for joining us this
evening.
15

First I would like to bring up your cat, Tinky. How
important was it for you to have a safe place for
your cat to go while you were in shelter?
Is he loving your new home?
KELLY: so important, he is the only family I have,
loves the new home
DEBORAH: Suzanne, I know you played a very important role
in helping Kelly receive the job training she
needed through the Customer Service and
Computer Skills Class. Tell us a little bit about
that.
SUZANNE: Talking points
DEBORAH: What was the most important thing you learned
from the classes Kelly?
KELLY:
16

DEBORAH: We are all so thrilled to see you are doing so
well. Good luck to you! Optional additional
comments on Carr story.
Michael Curry - STORY 3
DEBORAH: Since the Sulzbacher Center’s Veterans dorm
opened in December, we have helped over 60
veterans find the way home. Mike Curry served
our country bravely as a Marine in Desert Storm.
Later, Mike and his young family fell on hard
times when jobs in the construction industry dried
up. Mike turned to the Sulzbacher Center for help
when his oldest son was only 6 months old.
Let's listen to Mike and his family’s story.
17

VIDEO: IMAG
DEBORAH: Please join me in welcoming Mike Curry and his
family to the stage.
ACTION: MIKE, SHANNON AND CHILDREN enter Stage
Left to Center Couch
DEBORAH crosses to Couch with Handheld Mic
DEBORAH: Welcome Mike. Would you introduce us to your
lovely family?
MIKE: Shannon, Malachi and Mason
18

DEBORAH: Why did you decide to share your story with us
tonight? I’m assuming you could have said “No”
when you were asked to participate, but you
didn’t. Why was it important to you to be here?
MIKE: “ “
DEBORAH: Looking back, what was your biggest concern
when you first connected with the Center? What
service did you benefit the most from?
MIKE:
DEBORAH: What are your and Shannon’s hopes for the
future?
MIKE:
SHANNON:
DEBORAH: Mike and Shannon, thank you so much for being
here tonight and sharing your story with us. I wish
you the best of luck! Optional comments on
19

Mike’s story. Would like Deborah to insert the
here the importance of our relationship with the
V.A.
ACTION: MIKE AND FAMILY exit Stage Left
DEBORAH: Please join me in welcoming the Sulzbacher
Center’s Board Chair, Mike Santarone and
Sulzbacher Center’s President and CEO, Cindy
Funkhouser.
ACTION: MIKE AND CINDY enter Stage RIGHT
MIKE: Thank you, Deborah, and thanks to all of you for
joining us here this evening. Such inspirational
stories!
Let’s pause for a second to see how we are
doing with our Female Veteran Dorm Fund.
ACTION: SWITCH TO QTEGO SCRENE
20

I see we have ______ more to go to reach it and
encourage everyone to make a donation tonight
to help the Sulzbacher Center. If you don’t have
“Text-to-Give” with Qutego set up on your cell
phone and want to help, don’t fear. A donation
envelope can be found toward the back of your
event program. All additional gifts we receive
tonight, including those mailed in, will be applied
as well to our Female Veteran Dorm Fund.
CINDY: That’s absolutely right, Mike. Your support is
critical to us. There are over 340 people who call
the Center home each night. Over the last 5
years, the number of homeless people in need—
particularly veterans—has soared. Our shelter is
always at capacity. We currently have over 120
families on our waiting list for shelter and must
turn away, on average, 65 men and women each
day. While the need for our services has
skyrocketed, funding continues to be cut.
21

MIKE: We know that funding will continue to be an
issue, as we move into a future of increased
demand and shrinking resources. However, our
dedicated Board and proactive Sulzbacher
leadership team are constantly looking at new
opportunities for funding and sustainable revenue
streams. But if ever there were ever a time we
needed additional support from those of you who
already give, now is that time.
Although keeping our fiscal house in order is
always a priority for the Center, we don’t want
you to think that all we do is worry about funding.
We actually have some very exciting things going
on at the Sulzbacher campus.
CINDY: One of those things is opening our brand new,
28-bed Medical Respite Unit; a first of its kind in
Northeast Florida. We started accepting patients
in August of this year, offering medical care for
homeless individuals upon discharge from the
hospital, too ill or frail to recuperate on the
22

streets, but not ill enough to remain hospitalized.
We are partnering with local hospitals, Baptist
Health, St. Vincent’s and UF Health to guarantee
that uninsured, homeless patients have a safe
place to fully recuperate and find their way
permanently off the streets.
MIKE: Another impressive, new enterprise is our Career
and Education program. Led by Suzanne
Bonfanti, who we met earlier tonight, the Career
and Education program focuses on job training
and job placement initiatives that prepare our
residents to obtain a living-wage job that leads to
a career. When helping an individual find the way
home, the biggest challenge is obtaining a steady
income. Suzanne’s program is doing just that.
CINDY: Last, but certainly not least is the opening of our
Veteran’s dormitory in November 2012. As
Deborah mentioned, we work hand in glove with
the V.A., who like us is committed to ending
Veteran homelessness. Sadly, the number of
23

homeless vets is still too high. On any given night
there are over 400 Veteran’s on the streets of
Jacksonville and over 62,000 homeless Veteran’s
nationwide. Although we have taken a proactive
approach to the problem in opening our 18-bed
Veteran’s Dormitory, we are already at dorm
capacity with a waiting list for services.
At this time, I would like to welcome to the stage
our long-time supporters and honorary chairs of
tonight’s event, Vince and Linda Ferrigno. With a
heart for military veterans in need, Vince and
Linda generously sponsored the build out of our
new Veteran’s dorm. With love, Linda hand-
picked every single furnishing and bed linen for
this beautiful dorm, and Vince insisted on having
a 55 inch T.V. in the Veteran’s Dorm “man cave”.
ACTION: MIKE AND CINDY exit Stage right
VINCE AND LINDA enter stage right
24

VINCE: Thank you, Cindy. This has been a wonderful
night and a real privilege for Linda and I to be
involved with this year’s Transformations. Not
only is tonight’s event extraordinary because of
our focus on our military heroes, but also
because this year we are celebrating what would
have been the Center’s founder, and my dear
friend, the late I.M. Sulzbacher’s 100th
birthday.
LINDA: I.M. loved our city and had a true passion for
helping people, particularly homeless people. I.M.
once said, “When you better the lives of others…
you better your own life.” At this time I would like
to invite the Sulzbacher family to the stage for a
special tribute to the man, who not only made our
city a better place, but through his drive to start
the Sulzbacher Center, impacted the lives of over
33,000 homeless men, women and children in
our community. Please turn your attention to the
screen for a special tribute to I.M. Sulzbacher, a
man of vision.
25

VIDEO: IMAG
ACTION: SULZBACHER FAMILY enter Stage RIGHT
VINCE: Now let’s bring out the Cookie Cake for a special
Birthday Celebration!
ACTION: KEVIN to roll out giant cookie cake with
sparklers.
SULZBACHER CENTER CHILDREN’s Chorus
enter stage RIGHT.
VINCE: Please join me and the Sulzbacher Center
Children’s chorus in singing happy 100th
birthday
to I.M.
ACTION: VINCE and LINDA lead the Happy Birthday
Song
26

LINDA: Oh, this is so much fun! Now, it is with great
pleasure that I make a very special
announcement. You heard Tricia Cannan speak
in the tribute video about a yummy cookie that
I.M. loved and the Center would bake for him.
Well, in addition to selling our “Give a Good
Night” Christmas cards this year, we are also
going to offer I.M.’s favorite cookie, a delicious
white chocolate chip Macadamia nut, baked fresh
from I.M.’s treasured recipe. They are going to be
called the “I.M. Cookie,” after our esteemed
founder because he dearly loved this particular
cookie.
VINCE: As you leave tonight, you will each receive a
sample of the “I.M. Cookie” and an order form so
you can purchase these tasty treats throughout
the holiday season. Once you taste one of these
mouthwatering cookies, I guarantee you’ll be
back for a reorder because you can’t eat just one.
27

Now I would like to introduce Justin Spiller, the
Center’s Immediate Past Board Chair.
ACTION: VINCE AND LINDA exit Stage RIGHT.
Justin enter Stage LEFT.
Justin and Chartrands: Make a special
announcement on his cue roll video
VIDEO: IMAG
Justin to turn the program back to Janet and
John.
JOHN: This is incredible news! Thank you so much,
Gary and Nancy. I know everyone will agree that
tonight has been especially memorable, but we
just have a few more people to thank before we
close the program. First, thank you, Ali Isabelle.
28

Ali is a talented artist who has supported
Transformations for several years her uniquely
beautiful artwork you’ve seen on all of our
promotional materials for this event and
displayed on the banner behind me. Her original
painting is included in our Silent Auction tonight.
At this time I would like to recognize the
Transformations Host Committee. These
dedicated supporters helped us not only raise
funds for this amazing event but also helped us
raise awareness. There is a complete list of the
host committee members in you program, please
give them a round of applause.
I am also honored to recognize the dedicated
members of the Sulzbacher Board of Directors. I
can tell you from personal experience that there
is not a more talented and committed board
anywhere in Jacksonville. Will all the members of
the Sulzbacher Center Board of Directors and
any past Board Members especially the Past
29

Board Chairs and the Founding Board of
Directors please stand and accept our thanks?
Without the remarkable staff at the Center, none
of the success stories we’ve heard this evening—
or the hundreds and hundreds more stories we’ll
never hear—would be possible. On the front lines
daily, the staff are true unsung heroes at
Sulzbacher, making a big difference in so many
ways for so many people. Will the staff here with
us this evening stand and be recognized? I would
like to especially thank Allison Vega and the rest
of the Development Team who worked tirelessly
to make tonight’s event so incredible.
JOHN: Without volunteers, who give so generously of
their time and talent, much of what the
Sulzbacher Center provides for our residents and
others would not be accomplished. Earlier in the
program you may recall hearing we served an
incredible 488,000 meals last year. We simply
could not prepare and serve so many without the
30

gracious help of our dedicated volunteer Meal
Groups. Please turn your attention to the screens
one last time as we say thank you to the Meal
Groups who have been with us since our early
beginning in 1995.
ACTION: Switch Screen to Founding Meal Group Slide
If you are a member of one of the Meal Groups
on the screen, please stand! With your help and
the help of many other volunteers, the
Sulzbacher Center will serve its SIX MILLIONTH
meal this year. Please give them and all the
volunteers that support the Sulzbacher Center a
big round of applause.
JANET: Last, but not least, we wish to thank our 2013
Transformations Fundraising Brigade teams,
ACTION: Switch Screen to Group Sales Slide
especially the ________ platoon who sold the
most tickets for tonight’s event. Your steadfast
fundraising efforts this year not only helped us
31

achieve an ambitious goal, you also helped share
the Sulzbacher Center message around the
community. Please stand if you participated on a
Fundraising Brigade team!
Thank you one and all for supporting this
wonderful organization and for coming out tonight
to celebrate Tameka, Kelly, and the Curry
family’s transformations.
ACTION: JOHN and JANET exit Stage RIGHT
DEBORAH enter stage RIGHT
DEBORAH: Before we close, let’s check one last time to see
how we stand with our Female Veteran Dorm
Fund.
ACTION: Switch Screen to Qtego monitor
We are so close to making this exciting goal!
Keep in mind the Silent Auction will be open for
final bids 15 minutes after the program. And there
32

is still time make an “Insta-Buy” or Text-to-Give
donation with Qtego or place a gift into the
donation envelope in your event program. All
proceeds tonight will be matched, dollar-for-
dollar!
In closing, this has been a very special evening
for me and I certainly hope you feel the same
way. Please be sure to stay and enjoy the
scrumptious dessert reception that awaits you
outside this ballroom, as well as your yummy I.M.
Cookie sample.
Thank you again, everyone. Enjoy the rest of the
evening and have a safe trip home.
33

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