Getting to the Heart of the Matter

Always Home’s HEART TO HEART gala is set for Friday, May 13, 2022 at the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa. This heart-inspired evening begins at 6 pm and includes a cocktail hour with open bar, three-course gourmet dinner, auctions of unique items and experiences and dancing to DJ Doug Jastremski of Power Posse. This year’s gala honoree is David Cruthers, a long-time supporter of Always Home and resident of Groton Long Point.

The gala is the nonprofit agency’s primary fundraiser for the year and benefits Always Home’s mission, Preventing Family Homelessness. “Inflation is threatening low-income families’ housing stability,” said Always Home’s Executive Director, Tricia Cunningham. “If you’re not a family making the region’s household median income of over $75,000 annually, then you’re struggling to afford housing and other basic needs like food and gasoline.”

When reviewing who to honor this year, Cunningham said that she and the Event Committee members agreed that Cruthers ticked all the boxes. As a former Board member and employee, Cruthers went the extra distance to keep families housed. “When I worked for Always Home, I ran the Wheels to Work program which helps a family sustain housing through reliable transportation,” Cruthers said. “A dependable car increases parents’ ability to work and earn the income needed to pay the rent and keep their children stably housed. I continue to support Always Home because they provide families in housing crisis with tools to move forward.”

Cunningham acknowledged that this year’s gala would not be possible without the generous support of Heart of Gold Presenting Sponsor, The Whaler’s Inn; Young at Heart Sponsors, Melinda Elliott Carlisle of Randall Realtors Compass, Block Island Express, Foxwoods, Groton Utilities, Mohegan Sun and Mystic Aquarium; and numerous other corporate sponsors listed on the organization’s website. For the first time, the event’s popular Silent Auction is open to the public for bidding. For more information about the gala and to preview auction items, visit https://heart2heart.givesmart.com/