Actress and singer Jennifer Holiday, the original star of “Dream Girls,” will headline the annual Sunshine From Darkness fundraising dinner on January 13 at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota.
Proceeds from the dinner, titled “Spotlight on Mental Illness,” will benefit local mental health services at Harvest House and Teen Court of Sarasota as well as cutting-edge research by the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.
“We are so grateful to have star-caliber Jennifer Holiday for helping us highlight the importance of the work we do to make a difference in the lives of those living with mental illness and addiction disorders,” said Jeffrey Peterson, president of Sunshine from Darkness. .
A Grammy, Drama Disc, and Tony Award winner, Holliday will perform at the event and will also share her own story of her struggle with depression and multiple sclerosis.
“Her story of dealing with depression will inspire our guests,” Peterson said. “By publicly sharing personal stories, she reduces the stigma associated with mental illness for all who suffer.”
The event will start with a cocktail hour for VIP patrons at 6:30 pm, followed by a dinner program at 7:30 pm. The chairperson of the event is Amy Austin and the chairs of the event committee are Sarah Karp and Taylor Karp Timury.
Holiday began her career on Broadway in musicals such as “Dreamgirls” and “Your Arms Too Short to Box with God”. She became a successful recording artist, best known for her debut single from “Dreamgirls”, “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going”, for which she won a Grammy Award in 1983. Holliday also won a 1982 Tony Award for “Dream Girls”.
Dinner will also include dancing to Quintessence music and a performance by Westcoast Black Theater Troupe Young Artists Ensemble. The Lee and Bob Peterson Legacy Award will also be presented to Joan and Bob Geyer of the Academy at Glenary.
The organizers have set a target of $250,000
Last year’s Inspirational Hope Dinner raised more than $170,000. Organizers hope to raise $250,000 in the 2023 dinner. Tickets are $325 and sponsorship is available. Contact Marlene Hauck at 941-504-6717 or marlene@sunshinefromdarkness.org or visit sunshinefromdarkness.org for more information.
Sunshine From Darkness is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money for charities providing services for health and addiction disorders in the Sarasota community and for cutting-edge mental health research. Beneficiaries for 2023 are:
• Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. the foundation It is committed to alleviating the suffering caused by mental illness by providing grants that will lead to breakthroughs in research. Since 1987, the Foundation has awarded more than $430 million, and funded more than 6,200 grants to more than 5,100 scientists worldwide. visit bbrfoundation.org.
• Harvest house. The nonprofit supportive housing provider offers eight campuses, 25 affordable rentals, and 380 beds in Sarasota and Manatee counties to serve homeless families, youth ages 16 to 24, and adults with a history of incarceration and substance abuse issues. The organization works to break the intergenerational cycle of homelessness and trauma by providing personal development workshops and mental health services. visit harvest harvest.
• Teen Sarasota Court. The program provides a second chance for students who have been referred for minor legal infractions. The organization provides students, ages 8-18, with educational youth development activities designed to meet the needs of at-risk youth as well as student volunteers. Case managers provide tools for clients, including access to free mental health services. visit sarasotateencourt.org.
Submitted by Gail Genobe
