On October 24, more than 170 friends, supporters, community partners, and Interim staff gathered for Interim’s Hoedown: Island Style at the Moose Lodge in Del Rey Oaks, an evening filled with celebration, connection, and generosity in support of Marina Kai Apartments.
From the lively auctions and Hawaiian dance performances to the heartfelt stories shared throughout the evening, the Hoedown was a reminder of what our community can accomplish together.
On behalf of Interim’s Board of Directors, Executive Director Dr. Rhiyan Quiton, and the entire Interim team, we extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended, sponsored, donated, volunteered, and helped make the evening possible.
The evening’s program featured an inspiring lineup of speakers, beginning with Interim’s Executive Director, Dr. Rhiyan Quiton, and Board President, Alan Stumpf, who reflected on Interim’s mission and the importance of expanding supportive housing in Monterey County. Victor Rowe, our Success over Stigma speaker, shared his personal journey of mental health recovery, offering a powerful reminder of the impact of connection, support, and opportunity. We also had the privilege of honoring Maureen Lavengood with Interim’s inaugural Legacy Award, recognizing more than 50 years of dedication, leadership, and advocacy on behalf of individuals living with mental health challenges.
Two Special Moments from the Evening
Victor’s Story of Recovery
Victor shared his personal journey of mental health recovery, reminding us why access to compassionate care, supportive relationships, and opportunities for stability matter. We are grateful to Victor for his willingness to share his experiences with our community.
Honoring Maureen Lavengood
We proudly presented Interim’s inaugural Legacy Award to Maureen Lavengood, recognizing more than 50 years of leadership, advocacy, and mentorship. As a founding Board member who has helped guide generations of social workers, Maureen’s contributions remain an important part of Interim’s history and future.
Together, We Made a Difference
Thanks to the generosity of our guests, sponsors, auction donors, and supporters, we raised over $28,000 in support of Marina Kai Apartments! These funds will help advance the development of 23 studio apartments for low-income adults living with serious mental illness who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of being homeless. Every sponsorship, auction bid, donation, and contribution helped make the evening a success and brought us closer to creating more opportunities for safe, stable housing in our community. We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed.Â
