by Liz Daube
Staff Writer
Supporters of the I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless filled Forsyth Street Thursday night for the nonprofit’s annual “Transformations” fundraiser at the Florida Theatre. The event combined an outdoor reception with an evening of success stories from former Sulzbacher residents.
“The reason we call this ‘Transformations’ is it’s about the incredible power of love and support,” said Deborah Gianoulis, the event emcee. “Most of us are fortunate enough to have a wide circle of friends. But the people at Sulzbacher have no support system.”
As their stories of depression, poverty, addiction and redemption were told, former Sulzbacher residents expressed their gratitude and thoughts.
“A stranger can see things in you that you never see yourself,” one man said. An HIV positive former drug addict, he now works with Sulzbacher as a peer support specialist. “They (Sulzbacher staff members) give people the chance to change.”