San Diego CA— The San Diego Housing Federation, the region’s leading voice for affordable housing, will host its annual Ruby Awards from 4:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 24 at The Westin Gaslamp Quarter (Horton Plaza), 910 Broadway Circle in downtown San Diego.
As the county’s largest affordable housing recognition event, the Ruby Awards will gather nearly 400 housing and community development professionals from across the region and around the state to honor and fete the best people, projects and overall achievements during the past year.
This year’s awards event is particularly significant, as the nonprofit San Diego Housing Federation is celebrating its 25th anniversary of working countywide to promote the creation and preservation of quality affordable housing focused primarily on lower income families and people in need.
“While there’s still much work to be done to meet the region’s affordable housing goals, we’ve made huge strides and this is a great time to commemorate our organization’s 25 years of outstanding work and showcase a few of our major accomplishments,” said Bruce Reznik, Executive Director of the San Diego Housing Federation.
The efforts of a single organization such as the San Diego Housing Federation aren’t enough to overcome the long-standing obstacles to affordable homes, said Reznik. “That’s what this evening is all about. By bringing together and celebrating those in the public and private sectors who are working to make affordable housing a reality, and raising public awareness and support for these efforts, we can help many deserving San Diegans realize those magical words that there’s no place like home.”
He encourages all attendees and honorees to wear ruby-colored cocktail attire, and raise their voices and glasses to those who support, build, finance and advocate for much-needed affordable housing countywide.
Presented by US Bank, the 2015 Ruby Awards and 25th anniversary celebration will feature special guests and friends of the affordable housing industry, including: California State Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego); Emcee Todd Gloria, San Diego City Council member representing District 3; and Event Chair Frank Urtasun, Regional Vice President of External Affairs for SDG&E.
“We’re thrilled to be the lead sponsor of this year’s Ruby Awards, and help celebrate this milestone anniversary,” said Richard Shea, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Community Lending at U.S. Bank. “We are honored to be part of an event that recognizes excellence in affordable housing development, as well as affirms the Housing Federation’s core mission of ensuring safe, stable and affordable housing for all San Diegans.”
More than 40 nomination entries were received for the coveted “Rubies” that will be bestowed on worthy winners in over a dozen categories, ranging from new and rehabilitated affordable housing developments to energy efficiency and sustainability projects, superior service to residents and outstanding government agency/elected official.
The much-anticipated Ruby Awards and 25th anniversary event will include a reception and silent auction (4:30 p.m.), followed by a gourmet dinner and entertaining awards program (6 p.m.) featuring local dignitaries and industry luminaries. An after-party with live music will be held on the rooftop patio at the conclusion of the formal ceremony (7:45 p.m.).
Tickets are now on sale with “early bird” pricing rates until April 1: $100 for members; $125 for nonmembers; $50 for affordable housing residents; and, tables and sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Ticket and sponsorship information are available online at http://housingsandiego.org/ or contact San Diego Housing Federation Events and Membership Coordinator Katy Lillig at (619) 239-6693