Brother Knights,
Please see the below email from Elaine Damo, wife of our late Brother Chris Damo. Please consider supporting this event.
Hello,
You are invited to the “Warm Holiday Wishes” Gala benefitting Mission Warmth. The Gala will be held the evening of Saturday, December 9, 2023.
Mission Warmth is a new nonprofit that was founded in honor of Chris Damo who was known for his generous acts of service. Just 3 months before he died in 2015, Chris led a group called SubZero Mission (former Marine vets from the Cleveland area) to several homeless camps in Columbus to distribute warming items.
Sadly, about 10% of the unhoused population are Veterans. Many of you know that Chris was very patriotic (he had various iterations of ‘THANKS VETS’ on license plates for all of the Damo vehicles). Chris would do anything to help honor our country’s veterans. Helping the vets in homeless camps was just one more act of service to these brave heroes.
Since 2015, Greg Eckert (a Navy Vet) and I have coordinated the ‘Damo Mission’, helping Columbus’ homeless on a cold December weekend every year. Having been told by SZM that Columbus’ unhoused population is worse than any other city they serve, Greg and I decided to form our own non-profit in 2022 so we could make a bigger impact. During our first year, we went on six missions and helped warm over 380 men and women in outdoor camps. As a tribute to Chris, everyone who gets a coat, hat, sleeping bag or tent also gets a pack of Pop-Tarts. 😊
I’m hoping you’ll find it in your hearts to continue the legacy Chris started. Greg and I would love to see you on 12/9/23! Thank you!
Elaine
Elaine Damo, MBA, RHIA
Senior Director, Data Resource Center
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
700 Children’s Drive
Columbus, OH 43205
614.355-0800