LOVEWELL, KLEIN AMONG HONOREES AT BUILDING FUTURES EVENT

On Thursday, June 15th, Building Futures with Women and Children honored longtime supporters Louise Lovewell, John Klein, and other significant supporters with Partners for the Future Awards. The awards were presented at Built to Last, a dinner gala that raised funds for Building Futures' services to homeless and abused women and children.

A longtime member of San Leander parish, Louise Lovewell volunteered at Building Futures' San Leandro Shelter in 1986, the very first winter the agency began offering services. In the early years she served as a dinner cook, shopper for the shelter. Lovewell served for many years as a member of the agency's Board, and remains involved by sponsoring fundraising events and inspiring her colleagues to support the agency. She also served as Realtor when the agency purchased the home that became Sister Me Home Safe House for battered women and their children.

Like Louise Lovewell, John Klein has played a key role in the work of Building Futures since the agency began. As a member of the agency's Board for 12 years, Klein helped to make possible Building Futures' expansion into domestic violence services and long-term housing. He played a key role in the purchase and remodel of Sister Me Home Safe House, and on the conversion of the Navy Lodge Motel at the Alameda Naval Air Station to 52 units of supportive housing.

Others honored with Partners for the Future Awards for their outstanding support of Building Futures were the City of San Leandro, Wells Fargo, Creekside Community Church, and St. Joseph Basilica.

Building Futures operates the San Leandro Shelter, Sister Me Home Safe House, the Midway Shelter, and Bessie Coleman Court, a supportive housing site for formerly homeless women and children. The nonprofit organization helps 4,000 women and children each year. For information about Building Futures with Women and Children, call Peggy Combs at (510) 357-0205, ext. 106 or visit www.bfwc.org.