Safe Homes dinner raises $30,000 to fight domestic violence

Newburgh — Safe Homes’ annual Celebration of Hope Dinner on Thursday, Oct. 27, gathered 155 friends and supporters and raised $30,000 for the agency’s services and programs for individuals and families affected and displaced by domestic violence. The agency’s Hope Award was bestowed on District Attorney Frank Phillips’ Special Victims Unit, for their work on behalf of survivors of domestic violence and their families. Nick Hydos of Painter’s Tavern Cornwall-on-Hudson accepted The Mildred Warren Good-Neighbor Award on behalf of honorees Sal and Peter Buttiglieri, owners of the tavern. For over a decade, they have used their restaurant to help raise tens-of-thousands of dollars for the Safe Homes’ mission. Safe Homes is the county’s only non-profit agency fully dedicated to the elimination of domestic violence through comprehensive services to survivors and programs for the increase of public awareness and education on domestic violence issues. Dignitaries in attendance also included Melissa Gilbon, Kelle Grimmer and Debra Haynal, assistant district attorneys; John McGuirk, Supreme Court justice; Stewart Rosenwasser and Elaine Slobod, acting Supreme Court justices; Debra Kiedaisch, Family Court justice; Liz Holbrook, Family Court chief clerk; Carl DuBois, county sheriff; Donna Benson, county clerk; Chris Ashman, Mental Health Department commissioner; and David Jolly, Department of Social Services commissioner. Representatives of the sponsoring business community included Barry Short, manager of community relations for Orange & Rockland; Mike Meszaros, manager of Provident Bank; Janice Valentino, senior marketing executive at FOX Radio; and Oliver Mackson, from the Times Herald-Record. Held at The Gardens on Catlin Creek in Slate Hill, the celebration was sponsored by Monroe Ford, Orange & Rockland Utilities, Provident Bank, The Fox 96.7/103.1FM WTSX/WGNY Oldies 1220/1490AM, Bon Secours Community Hospital, Times Herald-Record and Neptune Diner. Individuals and businesses in the community contributed gifts for a benefit drawing and silent auction held during the event.