Salt Lake City— The Road Home announced that the Huntsman Foundation will donate up to one million dollars to support the local charity’s Holiday Mediathon, December 19 – 20, 2019. Every dollar that the public donates during the Mediathon will be matched by the Huntsman Foundation. The Holiday Mediathon is the largest fundraiser for the non-profit organization that provides emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing and support services to help Utahns overcome homelessness.
In January 6, 1992, Jon Huntsman Sr., while en route with his family to the University Hospital to have prostate cancer surgery, gave the first million-dollar gift to The Road Home. Twenty-seven years later, the Jon M. Huntsman family has donated more than $6.62 million for operations and support of The Road Home’s shelter and housing programs.
“The Huntsman Foundation contributes to The Road Home in a big way each year because we see how The Road Home skillfully and compassionately provides shelter and support to people in need,” said Christena Huntsman Durham, trustee for The Road Home. “We also made this contribution because we believe in the generosity and compassion of people in our community, and we know they will step up and donate to The Road Home as well. Together we can help people move out of homelessness and safely into housing.”
In 2019, The Road Home served over 10,000 people with a warm place to sleep and the opportunity to move back into the community in housing. Currently each night The Road Home serves more than 700 people, including 175 children, in their Midvale Family Center, Men’s Resource Center and Winter Overflow Shelter. In addition, The Road Home serves approximately 2,200 people a day with housing, shelter and supportive services.
Michell Flynn, Interim Executive Director of The Road Home, said, “We’re humbled and overwhelmed by the generosity of the Huntsman family. This time of year, when the weather is bitter cold and often wet, the Huntsman Foundation’s donation and the donations made by so many generous people and organizations, literally save lives by giving The Road Home the ability to serve all who turn to us in their moment of need.
“We are also grateful to our Mediathon partners including Broadway Media Group, Bonneville International radio stations and KUTV,” added Flynn. “During the Mediathon, our partners will be broadcasting live from the Midvale Family Resource Center and reminding their listeners and viewers about the essential services The Road Home provides and that every dollar donated will be matched by the Huntsman Foundation. With the community’s help, we can provide refuge, resources and relief to Utah’s most vulnerable.”
Donations can be made at www.theroadhome.org