The social services nonprofit organization Isaiah House today announced that its 35th-anniversary celebration, “Gala of Gratitude,” will take place Oct. 27 to celebrate more than three decades of helping individuals and families of Essex County. At the gala, the organization will announce the expansion of its 14th Street facility with a new re-entry program for women leaving incarceration.

Since its founding in 1988, Isaiah House has helped nearly 10,000 people, providing shelter, nourishment and support to vulnerable families and individuals in Essex County. The expansion East Orange will house a new, comprehensive program for women preparing to leave incarceration and return to their communities, with the goal to provide support and resources necessary for a successful transition back into society.

“I am immensely grateful to the community and our dedicated supporters who have stood by us for 35 years,” said Zammeah Bivins-Gibson, Executive Director of Isaiah House. “The expansion of our 14th Street facility will continue our mission and create a safe environment for those transitioning back to work and the community after incarceration. I am thrilled to celebrate this program and the many others initiated by Isiah House at the upcoming Gala of Gratitude, which will be a testament to the resilience of those we serve and a reminder that together, we can create lasting change.”

The event will take place on Oct. 27 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Orange Lawn Tennis Club, 305 N. Ridgewood Road in South Orange. It will include casino games, hors d’oeuvres and dinner, an open bar, music, a silent auction, and tributes to past supporters and esteemed honorees who have played vital roles in the organization’s efforts to reduce homelessness across Essex County over the last 35 years.

This year’s honorees include Alan Pasternak, Co-Owner of BAMCO Inc., Pastor Terry L Richardson of First Baptist Church South Orange, and Jason Cejour, a former Isaiah House resident whose journey is a testament to the transformative power of support and opportunity. As well as two Isaiah House staff members, Nancy Hicks-Saleem, deputy director and Stacy Rodgers, program director.

Attendees may dress in the night’s theme of the 1920’s. Tickets are $250 per person, with all proceeds considered a tax-deductible donation to the organization. More information can be found at https://isaiahhouse.org/gala. Additionally, event sponsorships are still available, with more information on sponsorship tiers available online.