Dustin Nickerson Stands Up For Home With Hope At Fairfield University
Homes with Hope’s signature stand up comedy event was held Saturday September 28th, was their 17th annual event and was attended by over 650 people at the University’s QuickCenter For The Arts.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Following their pre-show gala (photos below) Dustin Nickerson, an in demand comic on the rise gave the packed house laugh after laugh with one great story after another. Nickerson, who in 2020 released his debut comedy special “Overwhelmed” which is currently one of the highest rated specials on Amazon Prime Video.
In addition, he’s been featured on Comedy Central and Netflix by Kevin Hart, the Late Late Show with James Corden, is a regular on After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson, Fox, Hulu and can regularly be heard on Sirius Radio XM. Online, his stand-up clips and jokes have received tens of millions of views and his podcast, Don’t Make Me Come Back There, has over 3 million downloads.
To learn more visit: DustinNickerson.com
Homes With Hope, who’s mission to stop help people dealing with housing insecurity and loss honored the commissioner of the Department housing Seila Mosquera-Bruno at the event for all her support. HWH CEO Helen McAlinden (above, left) spoke about the organization’s efforts to deal with the housing crises in our area. Helen was followed by event Co-Chairs Becky Martin and Allyson Gottlieb. McAlinde , and was then joined by Commisioner Mosquera-Bruno who spoke about the state of CT’s cooperation with Homes With Hope (above, right).
Katherine Murray, (above, left) Marketing and Development Director talked about the needed renovations and services to Home’s properties. One of the fortunate clients helped by the organization spoke passionately about how their housing program changed his life significantly.
Commissioner Mosquera-Bruno has assisted Homes With Hope with 3 major projects. First, the renovations of The Gillespie Center Homeless Emergency Shelter and Haskins Place Shelter which shelter 19 homeless individuals nightly in Westport right behind Tiffany’s jewelery store.
Second, Susie’s Houses/project Return is also getting renovated and will be a home for 6 homeless young women with a priority for 18 to 24 year olds. Third, with the support of the Commissioner and the Department of Housing and Garden Home Fund, Richard Freedman, Homes with Hope acquired 19 apartments at 122 Wilton Road which will be 100 percent affordable and will prioritize the working poor who can’t afford to live in the town of Westport where many live and work locally in jobs like the service industry, landscaping, restaurants, grocery stores, babysitting, cleaning homes, social service workers, and other local agencies.
All are exciting and happy to join the wonderful community of Westport where they can become productive members of the community and raise their families. It is a very exciting time for Homes With Hope’s President and CEO Helen McAlinden.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Before Nickerson's performance a live auction was held and thanks to the generosity of Westport area residents, more than $150,000 was raised and will help support Homes With Hope programs.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The huge tent erected for the annual Homes With Hope Gala which preceded the stand up comedy event was filled to capacity. Guests were treated to a variety of tasty dishes and hors d'oeuvres.
Attending the glamorous Gala were many notable Westport area guests including (top, left to right) actor James Naughton and wife Sara with Home’s CEO Helen McAlinden, former State Senator from Westport Will Haskel and his new bride Katie Cion, state representative for Westport Jonathan Steinberg and wife Nancy, RTM moderator Jeff Weiser. Also, (bottom, l. to r) Police Chief Foti Koskinas, wife Christina and friends, artist Miggs Burroughs, Clasp Development Director Robin Hammond and former WestportNow photographer Dave Matlow. Others included former First Selectman Jim Marpe and Westport Fire Department Chief Nick Marsan, RTM member Sal Liccione (photos below).
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.