Project HOME 25th Anniversary Gala and Jon Bon Jovi Soul Homes Grand Opening

Nearly 300 notable Philadelphians were on hand to celebrate the grand opening of JBJ Soul Homes and help celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Project HOME.

From left: Rev. Herbert H. Lusk II of People for People Inc., Sister Mary Scullion, co-founder of Project HOME, Jon Bon Jovi of the Soul Foundation, and Joan Dawson McConnon, co-founder of Project HOME, listen as Council President Darrell Clarke talks about the dynamic duo of Sister Mary and Joan, who he said are very persuasive when they seek money for their projects.

Cheryl Ann Davis, a JBJ Soul Homes resident, reads a poem dedicated to her mother; she talked about how her mom had died and left her homeless. Cheryl went on to live in youth homeless shelter Covenant House where she got her life back together. She is now attending Community College of Philadelphia. She recently moved into the JBJ Soul Homes. (Jon Bon Jovi, will play a short acoustic set at the “Night of Broadway,” a benefit for Covenant House, on May 7th.)

From left: John Middleton, Darrell Clark, Penelope Giles, executive director at Francisville Neighborhood Development Corporation, Sister Mary Scullion, Jon Bon Jovi, Joan Dawson McConnon, Leigh Middleton, and Rev. Herbert H. Lusk II take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the grand opening of the JBJ Soul Homes, Tuesday, April 22nd.

John and Leigh Middleton, co-owners of the Phillies, chat with a JBJ Soul Home resident who came up to thank them for everything they have done and tell them that they saved her life.

From left: Lucy Kibe, Dr. George Spaeth, and Connie Smukler discuss the medical care the residents at the JBJ Soul Homes will receive.

At the gala Sister Mary Scullion greeted the guests as they arrived. Behind her is a photo of the JBJ Soul Homes in Fairmount.

Sue Daugherty, executive director of MANNA, and Rob Saxon of Manna. Last week Sue won the Cancer Treatment Centers of America Caregiver Award at Ben FM's Woman of the Week luncheon.

Toby Strogatz and Steven Korman.

Tina Lai Lurie and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie.

Bill DiCiurcio and Kitti Paparone.

The North Philly Footstompers and the Phillie Phanatic.

From left: David Gregory of Meet The Press and the gala's emcee, Aileen Roberts, Brian L. Roberts, chairman and CEO of Comcast, Marjorie and Jeffrey Honickman (the Honickman Foundation was the lead sponsor of the evening), Tamas Rudnay and D'Arcy Rudnay, chief communications officer for Comcast.

Jon Bon Jovi greets the guests by saying the work that Sister Mary and Joan are doing is about “The Power of We,” and how much we can do together to end homelessness.