• Mission & History
• Officers, Board Members, Administration
• Power Point Presentation about OH statistics

Programs

• Shelter Services
• Childcare
• Child sexual abuse/ victim services
• Job readiness training
• Housing: permanent & transitional

How You Can Help

• Volunteering, gifts, donations
• Include us in your estate
• Charitable giving tips

In the News

Newsletters/Reports

Links

Contact Us

Opportunity House
430 N. 2nd Street
Reading, PA 19601

610-374-4696

6^th ANNUAL

 Monday, May 5, 2008 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM

NEW LOCATION !!!!

The Inn at Reading

1040 North Park Road, Wyomissing

(plenty of free parking and all on one level)

Presenting Sponsor :

Media Sponsor:

Tickets available starting March 1^st at local Boscov’s Dept. Stores, Opportunity House and The Inn at Reading.

$20 per person in advance - $25 per person at the door

More than 20 local restaurants with soups, desserts, and breads, and handmade pottery bowls guaranteed to the first 700 attendees.

A great event for families, friends, co-workers, and groups!

We need potters and restaurants to participate, volunteers, and sponsors.  Please contact Sue Stalnecker at 610.374.4696, ext. 231 or sstalnecker@opphouse.org.

Special Preview event!

From 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM, a new feature to the day of the Souper Bowl has been added for those wanting first choice at bowls and a relaxed atmosphere prior to the hustle and bustle of the Souper Bowl. Guests can arrive at The Inn at Reading an hour before Souper Bowl begins and have first selection of one of our pottery bowls. In addition, for your $75 admission ticket, you can enjoy hors d’oeurves, beer and wine, a special presentation by potter Wesley Muckey of Nolde Forest Pottery and entertainment in the Publick House Restaurant area of The Inn. This admission also includes entrance to the Souper Bowl event to enjoy the sampling of soups, bread, and desserts.

Mark this Date on your Calendar!!!

Monday, June 2, 2008

The Opportunity House Golf Tournament is:

• Moving to the BERKSHIRE COUNTRY CLUB!

• Celebrating its 11^th ANNUAL YEAR

• Setting a cumulative goal of ½ MILLION DOLLARS!!!

    TITLE SPONSOR:

Our committee is working on a great sports celebrity roster.  Join us for a great golf tournament and “Thanks for chipping in!”

NEW TITLE SPONSOR!

NEW LOCATION!

SAME GREAT EVENT!

Interested in golfing, being a sponsor, donating a silent auction item, volunteering for the tournament?  We would love to hear from you.  Please contact Sue Stalnecker at Opportunity House at 610.374.4696, ext. 231 or sstalnecker@opphouse.org.

Save-A-Tape Program

    Redner's is committed to the communities that it is a part of, and wants to help out the non-profit organizations whose members shop in our stores.  In this interest, Redner's developed their 1% Save-A-Tape program.

Here's how it works:  Groups and Individuals can save the tapes…….

    When you shop at any Redner’s market stop at the store office or Customer Service area to get a Save-A-Tape card.  By using this card each time you purchase merchandise at Redner's Warehouse Markets, your receipt will be designated as a Save-A-Tape customer receipt.  Save up all your receipts and on a regular basis that is convenient for you send them to Opportunity House at 430 North Second Street, Reading, PA   19601 (attention: Development Dept.)

An example of how your tapes can help raise dollars for Opportunity House:

    Lets say your group has 50 families with an average of $75.99 per week in supermarket expenditures.  If it was all spent at Redner's Warehouse Markets, and you saved tapes for a year, Opportunity House would receive a check for $1,950.00.  There is no time limit and no dollar limit. 

 If you start saving tapes today, you will begin to help Opportunity House for tomorrow.  Thank you!

Opportunity House would like to thank all of the sponsors of its spring 2007 events:

For 2007 Souper Bowl coverage, visit this page.

Volunteers honored during Open House

An Open House held April 24, 2007 gave visitors the opportunity to tour the facilities, in particular the new home of the Childrens's Alliance Center and the Permanent Housing facilities, while also honoring volunteers.

Lorri Oziri: Opportunity House
Ribbon Cutting at Opportunity House/Children's Alliance Center - Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry - Red Carpet Committee (Represented by Brittany Tranquillo, far right)

The Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Red Carpet Committee initiated a ribbon cutting in honor of the new location of the Children's Alliance Center (CAC), with Brittany Tranquillo officiating and then the Lois E. and Irving Cohen plaque was rededicated with the couple in attendance.

Opportunity House President Modesto Fiume recognized the following volunteers with special certificates:

Emiliano Alvarez – also known affectionately in Opportunity House as “Grandpa”  is a dedicated volunteer.  We’re lucky to have several wonderful volunteers from Foster Grandparents Program who come to the Learning Center to rock our babies and care for the kids on a daily basis.

Barbara Dawkins – you are another wonderful volunteer… “Grandmom Barbara” we love you as much as you love our kids.

Cyndi Fisher – for the past few years Cyndi has always been available to round up volunteers for special events.  She started with the Betsy King golf event and in response to her work we received a total of over $15,000 from that event. 

Jane Fultz – Jane had her calling and came to the Shelter to provide meals for our clients.  She’s taught our clients to cook and eat healthy and she has picked up the tab for all the many meals she’s provided here.  Even the staff looks forward to Jane’s cooking…  We call her “the lunch lady.”

Lorri Oziri: Opportunity House

John Gallen from Etho Source with his family, displays his Special Volunteer Certificate which was presented to him at the reception.

John H. Gallen, Jr. ( of EthoSource) – chances are that if you are sitting… John’s company donated that chair.  He generously gives to Opportunity House and all of our programs when ever we ask and pretty much what ever we ask for.

Sheila Guldin – A long-time volunteer.  Sheila gives so much year-round…holiday treats and gifts at Christmas, household items during the year.  Always thinking of OH needs.

Dr. Johanna Kelly – Jo, we want to thank you for the countless hours you’ve given to the CAC, getting it started and for being on call to help the children and their families when needed most.  But, that’s not all… Jo organized the first Speakers Bureau at Opportunity House and continues to help by visiting churches in Berks County to ask for their assistance.

Lorri Oziri: Opportunity House Mindy Leader, Chair of BRIDGES (Opportunity House's young leadership group) displays her Special Volunteer Certificate

Ellaminda (Mindy) Leader – Mindy, you have the “right” name… you have been a wonderful “leader” to our BRIDGES group.  Mindy and her family volunteer to help with many events.  You’ve grown the group and have raised money for Opportunity House.

George W. Leonhardt  –  came to us via the annual golf event and now our golf committee.  Thanks for providing trucks when we need them, sponsorship support and so much more.

Nancy I. List – as one of the founders of our annual Souper Bowl (this year is the fifth annual…)  Nancy has fired and glazed thousands of ceramic bowls for us and helped to raise more than $100,000 for OH.

Dennis Lorah – (from Denny’s Electric) Our very own Parrot Head. Under Denny’s leadership the Parrot Head Club raised over $12,000 for OH in January at their annual Cabin Fever Festival.

Oscar Mejias – Another one of our special “Grandpas”… Oscar is as dear to us as any volunteer or staff member. 

Maria Nunez – Our fourth, but not least Foster Grandparent… Grandma Maria has also been with Opportunity House longer than many of our staff. 

Mabel Rieser –  a dear friend and behind the scenes volunteer.  Mabel has been making quilts and blankets for our clients for many, many years.

Ms. Dina & Mr. Rodney Schock –  For years Dina and Rodney have helped out in every way; from cooking meals to collecting personal items – they are usually behind the scenes, but doing huge jobs to help us grow. 

Susan Miers Smith – Susan served on our Marketing Committee in the past and has more recently taken on the task of Web Master… she volunteers all of her services and has created a very impressive website for Opportunity House. She is a member of the Speakers Bureau and gives talks about OH to local church and community groups. Susan also is currently coordinating our community newsletters.

Brittany Tranquillo – Like everyone here, Brittney is very active all over Berks County.  Personally she has taken a special interest in our Learning Center and also helped with setting up the CAC when it first opened.  Brittney through her work with Rotary, Junior League, the Chamber and Leadership Berks has always found funding to help improve our programs.

Lorri Oziri: Opportunity House

Modesto Fiume, President of OH presents a Special Volunteer Certificate to David Waligurski (Chairman of the annual golf tournament) .

David Waligurski – probably better known as “Wally”… Wally started out at Opportunity House in the beginning with a group of his buddies cooking and serving meals in the shelter.  As the agency grew so did Wally’s involvement.  He with his “crew” started our golf tournament… this year will be the 10^th ANNUAL!  and has helped to raise well over $400,000 (net!) for the agency.  This year’s event will be the biggest yet… adding celebrity golfers and a higher level of financial support, we hope to raise $75,000.

West Lawn United Methodist Church (Jack Williams and Cheryl Raffauf accepting) – When we run out of room in the Learning Center, the water has to be turned off for repairs… or if the air conditioning breaks down… we can always turn to West Lawn United Methodist Church to share their home with our kids from the Center. They do this willingly and without a charge.

West Reading/Wyomissing Rotary Club(accepted by Brittney Tranquillo) -  West Reading Rotary Club has donated money, paint, party supplies and muscle to Opportunity House… from renovating the Women’s Dorm to decorating the CAC and painting the Learning Center.  The volunteers from the Club are always available to help us out – we know we can count on them. 

Berks County Parrot Head Club Cabin Fever Festival - A Success Story!

Opportunity House is located in Reading, Pennsylvania and serves residents of Berks County. Our goal is to help families and adults become and remain independent members of our community.

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