Samaritan Inn’s Lynn Sipiora named The Homeless Network’s Outstanding Executive Director

by PegNews wire

McKinney resident Lynne Sipiora, Executive Director of The Samaritan Inn (Collin County’s only homeless shelter), received the Outstanding Executive Director award from The Texas Homeless Network (THN) on September 7, 2007 at the Omni Park West Hotel.

The award recognizes an exceptional director who possesses charismatic leadership skills while guiding and motivating their employees. Mrs. Sipiora was chosen for her tireless advocacy, community action and innovative employment program, “Samaritan Inndustries”. Samaritan Inndustries’ first product, Greater Goodies chocolate truffles, are made and marketed entirely by the Inn’s residents, providing job skills and training.

The ‘Best New Product’ award-winner, Greater Goodies will be available at the Inn’s largest fundraising event, The Annual Good Samaritan Awards Gala, on Friday, October 26 at the Marriott Legacy Town Center. The Gala will honor ten Collin County Good Samaritans with an awards ceremony, dinner, live and silent auctions, and music by the Cross Timbers Youth Orchestra. Auctioneer Rene Bates will help the Samaritan Inn continue its worthy programs with the auction of a 2007 Harley-Davidson motorcycle; vacation packages in Maui, HI and Aspen, CO; certified Masters flags signed by Tiger Woods, and more.

Tickets to the Gala are now available: $100 per person or tables of 10 for $1000. Corporate sponsorships are being sought at levels from $500 - $5000 and include media, web, and event publicity and free tickets. For tickets or sponsorship, contact Cheryl Spofford at cherylspofford@thesamaritaninn.org or 972-542-5302.

Background:

The Samaritan Inn is the only homeless shelter in Collin County, a county with over 650,000 residents. Their program works aggressively to help people become independent members of the community again. Over 75% of Samaritan Inn residents ‘graduate’ with full-time employment and secured housing in our community. Last year, 760 Collin County residents (fully 30 % children) benefited directly from the program.

The Texas Homeless network is a statewide non-profit membership organization that provides information services to direct service providers and individual members all across the state of Texas. THN promotes communication, develops awareness, and formulates strategies concerning statewide issues and problems that require solutions more comprehensive than local efforts can supply on their own. The Mission of Texas Homeless Network is to strengthen communities and partnerships to prevent and eliminate homelessness.

Source: Samaritan Inn