Cirque du Soirée Kicks Off House of Hope’s 40th Anniversary

STUART, Fla. – Cirque Du Soirée, a glamorous and enchanting celebration of unique experiences and glorious artwork, kicked off the festive 2024 season on January 20 to benefit House of Hope’s Project HOPE (Helping Others Progress through Empowerment). Nearly $150,000 was raised in support of the nonprofit’s work.

The sold-out event at Piper’s Landing Yacht & Country Club in Palm City featured an exquisite gourmet dinner, a live auction with unique experiences, an intriguing array of items in a silent auction, and the live band Soul Survivors from Chase Music 2.0.

 Commissioner Ed Ciampi acted as Auctioneer. His vivid descriptions of the impact of House of Hope on the community inspired guests to donate $35,000 in an impromptu “Call to Hope.”

“This was a very special event for us,” said House of Hope CEO Rob Ranieri. “It was a fantastic evening among friends and a great fundraiser for House of Hope, but it also was the kickoff of our 40th anniversary.”

During the auctions, guests had the opportunity to bid on several items that are not only one-of-a-kind but also carry special emotional meaning. Local artists Deborah Lovequist, Kiora Slate, Sue Ann Saleeby, Teagan Carregal and Stacy Ranieri each created a piece of art for the silent auction that reflects their personal response to House of Hope’s work in the community. The live auction included a stunning piece of jewelry contributed by Martin County resident and jeweler Terry Rieger of Diamonds by Terry. The white gold ring, created by Terry herself, sparkled with more than two carats of gorgeous stones including emeralds and diamonds.

House of Hope was founded by compassionate members of the community in 1984, including the remarkable couples David and Marni Abate and Robert and Toddie Neal, alongside retired priest  Father Jerome Herman, and Deacon Jack Raisch and his wife Eleanor. Over four decades, a small nonprofit dedicated to feeding the hungry has expanded in size and broadened its mission, providing transformative programs to empower Martin County residents to overcome hunger and hardship.

House of Hope now has a staff of 48, with 864 volunteers, 7 service locations, and a hydroponic production farm with a packing house. It reaches more than 21,000 individuals each month and distributed 1.3 million pounds of food last year.

Sponsors of the second annual Cirque du Soirée include the Pedersen Family Foundation as the Presenting Sponsor, Cleveland Clinic Martin Health, Michele Bragg, Three Lakes, Ashley Capital, Immanuel Palm City - Stuart, O’Rourke Engineering & Planning, Hooks Construction, Treasure Coast Legal, d(K) Capital, Debra Duval with Water Pointe Realty Group of Stuart Inc., HBKS Wealth Advisors, Jensen Beach Garden Club, Lucido and Associates, One Martin, ReMax of Stuart, and Timothy & Maureen Cotter.

Pictures of the event are posted on House of Hope’s Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/Hohmartin.

To read the full history and understand more about House of Hope’s impact in the community, visit the website www.hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673 for a tour.

About House of Hope

Founded in 1984, House of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers Martin County residents to overcome hunger and hardship. House of Hope touches the lives of more than 21,000 people each month, helping with basic needs such as food, clothing, furniture, and financial assistance, as well as longer-term case management services that help build life skills for a more self-sufficient future. House of Hope reaches an additional 13,000 people through their food bank partners. The organization has service centers in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown, and Jensen Beach, and Thrift Shops in Stuart, Hobe Sound, and Indiantown. House of Hope’s Enrichment Centers in Stuart, Jensen Beach, and Indiantown offer free programs, technology, and workshops designed to enhance life skills, earning potential, health, and overall well-being. House of Hope also operates the Growing Hope Farm in Palm City and several nutrition gardens that provide sustainable sources of fresh produce for clients as well as nutrition education and vocational opportunities to the community. For more information, visit hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673. Updates and announcements can also be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Hohmartin, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/houseofhopemc/, and Twitter https://twitter.com/hohmartin.