RHD 2022 Year in Review

January 2022

Ten artists from RHD’s Center for Creative Works (CCW) were featured in FACE SPACE, an exhibit curated by Philadelphia artist, Adam Lovitz, at the Woodmere Art Museum in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of the city. FACE SPACE featured a selection of portraits – including representational and symbolic paintings, drawings, and sculptures — from CCW artists Jacob Berger, Mary T. Bevlock, Paige Donovan, Clyde Henry, Olin Johnson, Jason McGonigle, Vinetta Miller, Joyce Moseley, David Schmuckler, and Eric Stewart.

February 2022

RHD celebrated Black History Month with six inspiring virtual events. Topics covered included Black Children’s Literature, Black Winemakers, and Family Reunion. Additionally, RHD paid tribute to the following Black legends on social media.

• Carter G. Woodson – Historian, author, journalist, and “Father of Black History”
• Zaila Avant-garde – The first Black American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee
• Virgil Abloh – Visionary designer and the first Black American to become artistic director for Louis Vuitton
• Wille O’Ree – Congressional Gold Medal winner and the first Black player for the NHL

RHD received a $125,000 grant from PHLCares as part of its business-led initiative investing in solutions to end homelessness. The grants were officially announced and distributed during a press conference on February 24 held at Love Park in Center City Philadelphia. CEO, Marco Giordano, and staff from RHD’s Housing Smart program were on hand to make statements.

March 2022

In honor of International Women’s Day, RHD highlighted four women who proved to be trailblazers in their respective fields.

• Lusia Harris – Olympic basketball player and only woman ever drafted by an NBA team, the New Orleans Jazz.
• Amanda Gorman – The youngest person ever to serve as inaugural poet for a U.S. President. She read her poem “The Hill We Climb” for President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
• Jane Campion – An acclaimed New Zealand filmmaker and first woman to receive two Oscar nominations in the Best Director category for The Piano in 1993, and The Power of the Dog in 2022.
• Greta Thunberg – 19-year-old Swedish environmental activist who went viral with a speech given to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2018.

April 2022

Philadelphia Business Journal recognized RHD’s work to provide long-term housing solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness during the Faces of Philanthropy 2022 Awards event, held on April 7. The Journal’s awards honor for-profit and non-profit organizations that collaborate on social and charitable initiatives that will make a bigger impact on our communities.

RHD’s Morris Home hosted its ribbon cutting and Grand Re-Opening ceremony for its new location (3 S. 44th St., Philadelphia, PA) on April 12 and included program participants, local community members, the media, and RHD staff in attendance. From the positive feedback on the new space and well-appointed rooms, to the feeling of hope for a brighter future for transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals, the event was a success.

May 2022

RHD’s Wister Street’s newest location opened this month in Philadelphia. Similar to Wister Street, the new Wister Street Expansion Site also provides 24-hour residential and behavioral services to individuals returning to society following time spent in a prison, state hospital, or other place of confinement.

On May 5, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) received an award from the National Association of Community Health Centers for her support of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), including RHD’s Family Practice and Counseling Network (FPCN). She accepted the award and gave remarks at FPCN’s Health Annex, located at 6120 Woodland Ave. in Philadelphia.

RHD’s Live Yes Studios raised $9,500 for Give to Lincoln Day, held on May 26. Give to Lincoln Day is a coordinated day to celebrate and raise funds for non-profit organizations based in Lincoln, Nebraska.

June 2022

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Recognizing and fighting for the humanity, dignity, and rights of all LGBTQ+ individuals is an essential and core component of RHD’s Values. For Pride Month 2022, clothing retailer Anthropologie committed to continuing its partnership with RHD’s Morris Home with a $15,000 donation, and signage featuring Morris Home visible in all of their stores.

On June 9, RHD was among organizations honored by the Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services for their work serving the homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony was held at One Logan Square in Center City, Philadelphia. ⁠⁠RHD’s Michele Rector, Nicole Sommerville, and Ashley Taylor received commendations during the ceremony for their work helping Philadelphia’s homeless community during the pandemic.

In honor of Juneteenth, observed on Sunday, June 19, RHD held a virtual event to pay tribute on June 10. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

July 2022

RHD’s Philly Pours fundraiser was held at City Winery Philadelphia on Wednesday, July 13. The circus-themed event helped raise money and awareness for RHD’s mission and programs with a raffle, silent auction, and more. WDAS-FM DJ and local radio legend, Patty Jackson, emceed, while magician and mentalist Christophe Fox and caricaturist Bruce Blitz delighted and amazed the crowd. A compelling video presentation profiled RHD programs Woodstock Family Center, Café the Lodge, and Street2Feet.

On July 22, RHD’s Family Practice and Counseling Network (FPCN) celebrated its 30th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, FPCN held a fundraiser at the 11th Street Family Services Clinic (850 N. 11th St) in Philadelphia. All proceeds raised during the event went toward FPCN’s Family Health & Birth Center, set to open in the Summer of 2023. This unique birthing center will provide comprehensive health services, including birthing and pediatric services, to women in labor and parents in a low-tech, high-touch home-like setting facilitated by midwives, doulas, and nurses.

Former RHD Morris Home director Laura Sorensen was named a LGBTQ+ Power Player by Metro Philadelphia! The article celebrated influential leaders “who are working toward a more equitable future for LGBTQ+ individuals in Pennsylvania and across the country.”

August 2022

RHD’s Café the Lodge was awarded a $2,500 grant from the PPL Foundation. Based in Allentown, PA, the PPL Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the PPL Corporation, one of the largest regulated utility companies in the United States. Café the Lodge is a full-service café that employs people in recovery from mental health challenges in Bethlehem, PA.

September 2022

On September 21, the 2022 Main Line Wine Gala was held at the beautiful Appleford Estate in Villanova, PA! Highlights included a delicious, masterfully prepared three-course meal, highlighting signature favorites from The Joy of Cooking, eye-catching artwork to bid on, and our amazing auctioneer, Harris Gubin. Rombauer Vineyards was the featured winemaker for this year’s Gala, which was curated by honorary chair, President & CEO of Rombauer Vineyards, Bob Knebel. The event raised over $110,000 for RHD programs.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15), RHD honored the following outstanding individuals.

• Carlos Russell – Dr. Russell was revered as an activist, journalist, and playwright who opened doors for other Afro-Latino people during the 1960s and 70s.
• Alba Martinez – This Puerto Rican native and Philadelphian composed the song “La Guagua 47,” which served as inspiration for a documentary about the connection between Philadelphia and the Latino community.
• Julio Salgado – As a queer, undocumented activist, Julio used his platform to shine a light on LGBTQ and migrant rights.
• Daniela Vega – A Chilean transgender actress, singer, and activist, who is best known for her role in the Oscar-nominated film A Fantastic Woman.

October 2022

RHD CEO, Marco Giordano, was named one of City & State PA’s 2022 Nonprofit Power 100! City and State PA is a multimedia news firm. For Nonprofit Power 100, they feature organizations that are making an impact within the state’s nonprofit community. Congratulations, Marco!

From October 7 through December, Austin Dearth from RHD’s Imagine That! displayed art on two billboards in the Crossroads Arts District in Kansas City. Austin was one of eight Kansas City artists selected to display their art funded by the Charlotte Street Arts Foundation.

On October 28, RHD showcased the season’s most fun activities during its Fall Festival, complete with costume contest, decorating contests, and more!

November 2022

RHD opened its Christine Gibson Peer Support House (CGPSH) in November at 2831 N. Hutchinson Street in Philadelphia. The CGPSH will support people with mental health issues following their release from a jail, prison, or hospital. The house, named after the late Christine Gibson, will provide residential supports, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Christine worked as the unit director of United Peers. She lost her life suddenly on February 6, 2021. This house is dedicated to her memory and will serve as her legacy.

RHD’s 2021 Annual Report was released, which highlighted the many innovations that emerged in 2021 across the organization. Programs featured included Center for Creative Works (CCW), IDEATE, Fine Line Studios, Housing Smart, and Family Practice and Counseling Network (FPCN), among other RHD initiatives. Read the entire report here.

Held annually, RHD’s Values Day celebration was held virtually on November 17. This inclusive event featured an Olympic-inspired theme named “Lighting the Way Forward” and brought the RHD community together in a fun and inspiring celebration of RHD’s Values.