LAHR Annual Bingo & Silent Auction Honors Ellen Johnston and Features Print by John August Swanson

The annual evening, titled Our House Has Heart  featuring bingo, silent auction, raffle, dinner and drinks, will be held October 18th at St. Cyril of Jerusalem in Encino from 6-10 pm. Doors open at 5pm at 15520 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91436. 100% of the proceeds support the programs of the shelter which have been in operation for more than 40 years. $50 tickets are available in advance at and are $55 at the door.

LAHR programs include crisis intervention, after-school care, trips for medical appointments, parenting classes, legal counsel, tutoring, and other expenditures for which most government funding is restricted. It is only through non-governmental donations with no restrictions that we are able to go the extra mile for our clients, which makes a huge difference and is a key factor of our 95% success rate.

“We have found over the years that our clients who are victims of domestic violence and those who are homeless have one thing in common: They do not have family or friends to help them, so we become their family. We get them back on their feet by providing counseling, tutoring, parenting and anger management classes, job and housing referrals and so much more. While the amount of homeless people has declined in Los Angeles, there is a new group rapidly emerging in the homeless sector: women over 50.  Our funding only goes so far and to meet the needs of our clients we depend now more than ever on private donations, as government funding has been greatly cut,” explains Executive Director Jennifer Gaeta.

Longtime supporter Ellen Johnston will be honored for her service as a board member for more than 25 years. Her unwavering support has enabled the shelter to achieve many of its goals including the implementation of new programs. Johnston experienced many challenges when her first marriage ended and undeterred raised and supported three daughters. Together with her second husband, Dean Safe Co. was launched, which today is one of the premiere safe companies in the U.S.

Theatre, museum and concert tickets are part of the silent auction plus electronics, jewelry, home goods, pottery classes, gondola rides, golf experiences, gift certificates, trips to Europe and a rare serigraph print by John August Swanson whose work is at the Smithsonian as well as the Vatican.

“Founded in 1978, we have grown from a four-bed transitional shelter to having over 80 beds, and have helped more than 5,000 women and their children. We ensure the well-being of our clients by helping them achieve freedom and control over their lives, providing hope for the future for themselves and their family. We believe that when homeless individuals, especially victims of domestic violence, receive the services they need in a timely and engaging manner, they can overcome obstacles to self-sufficiency. We do not use a ‘cookie cutter’ approach and we can’t do what we do just with government funding” notes Gaeta. “It’s only because of the generosity of individuals and corporations that we can be successful helping those who need a hand,” adds Gaeta.

The Los Angeles House of Ruth is a 501 c 3 non-profit corporation.

Video and b-roll:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWUYc0nreeM

Press Contact: Jane Covner, JAG Entertainment, jcovner@jagpr.com 818 395-4941