Press Releases

• Martin Short to Headline 2011 HomeAid Northern California Comedy Benefit

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  CONTACTS:
  Cheryl O'Connor | HomeAid Northern California | 925.768.0234 | coconnor@homeaidnc.org
  Gus Nodal | Infinite PR | 415.732.7825 | gnodal@infinitepr.com

  Walnut Creek, Calif. (April 19, 2011) – HomeAid Northern California is pleased to announce that comedy buffs with the desire to make a real difference in their communities can still purchase tickets for the organization's annual comedy benefit on April 29th, which this year will feature Emmy Award-winning actor and comedian Martin Short.

  HomeAid Northern California is one of the San Francisco Bay Area's most active homeless agencies, having built state-of-the-art shelters for the transitionally homeless in nearly every county in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to serving as a safe, comfortable place to live, the shelters typically offer counseling and job training as core components of their programs in an effort to help residents lead dignified, self-sufficient lives.

  The highly anticipated evening of entertainment will be sponsored in part by a number of prominent regional and national companies including Brookfield Homes, PG&E, DeNova Homes, Alves Ranch, Chevron, Mechanics Bank, Accelerated Marketing Partners, ARC Printing, Wells Fargo Bank, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, California Custom Carpets, Thomas Properties, Fremont Bank, Garaventa Enterprises, Infinite Public Relations, California Bank & Trust, Concord Toyota, Hidden Villa Ranch, Allen Matkins, Ponderosa Homes, DRG Builders, The Marcom Group, Resmark Equity Partners, and Howard S. Wright. Media sponsors include Bay Area News Group and Diablo Magazine.

  "Even in these difficult economic times, the homebuilding industry in the Bay Area has been remarkably generous to HomeAid," said Executive Director Julie O'Connor. "We hold this comedy event every year to raise public awareness of HomeAid, and also in an attempt to reach out to new corporate sponsors. We've gotten a great response so far this year and couldn't be happier, or more grateful to our sponsors, whose dollars are truly changing lives."

  Performer Martin Short has been repeatedly recognized as one of the finest actors and comedians working today. In the course of his career, which spans more than three decades, Short has won an Emmy Award, a Tony Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award and numerous other honors. He has created unforgettable characters such as the zany celebrity television interviewer Jiminy Glick in his television series Primetime Glick, and the overzealous wedding planner Franck in the film Father of the Bride; starred in the successful Los Angeles production of The Producers opposite Jason Alexander; and recently starred in the popular FX Network television drama Damages, for which he scored an Emmy nomination in 2010.

  Joining Short on the Lesher Center for the Arts stage will be Master of Ceremonies Tom Vacar, an Emmy Award-winning television reporter with KTVU Fox Channel 2, and stand-up comedian Pete Holmes as the show opener. Holmes has appeared on Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Comedy Central Presents; VH1's Best Week Ever and All Access; Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Conan, among other programs; and is currently the man behind the voice of the e-trade baby in the company's popular television commercials.

  Bruce Ring, President of HomeAid and a real estate attorney with Walnut Creek law firm Morgan Miller Blair, calls the event "the social—and feel-good—highlight of the year for those of us who are active in the Northern California homebuilding industry." "It will be a great opportunity not only to relax and enjoy a performance from one of the top talents around," says Ring, "but also to support an organization that has done so much to help keep a roof over people's heads in times of need."

  About Homeaid
  HomeAid Northern California is a 501c(3) non-profit organization founded in 1999 as the charitable arm of the Home Builders Association of Northern California. One of the region's most active homeless agencies, HomeAid has built shelters for the transitionally homeless in nearly every county in the San Francisco Bay Area in collaboration with the homebuilding industry and its vendors, partners and suppliers. In addition to providing a safe, comfortable home, the shelters typically offer counseling and job training as core components of their programs.

  HomeAid is currently building additions to the planned 34,000 sq. ft. Mission Solano Bridge to Life Center in Fairfield, CA, which currently has the capacity to house 122 residents. Once completed, the facility will house 162 residents, making it the second largest HomeAid shelter in the USA. Other projects in the works include construction of a new facility at Shepherd's Gate in Livermore, CA; renovation of the First Christian Church in downtown San Jose, CA to provide housing and job training through the Downtown Streets Team project; and renovation of a new Oakland, CA site for DreamCatcher, Alameda County's only emergency shelter for homeless teenagers. A complete list of current and completed shelters can be found here.

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  For more information about HomeAid, including its completed and pending shelter projects, visit www.homeaidnc.org. To arrange an interview please contact Cheryl O'Connor, 925.768.0234, coconnor@homeaidnc.org, or Gus Nodal at Infinite Public Relations, (415) 732-7825, gnodal@infinitepr.com.