A History of Hearts and Hospitality

By Melanie Davis

The combined campaign of the Hospitality House of Boone was a long time in the making.

Prior to the campaign’s kick-off in August 2008, there were multiple people working together to discuss the future of the homeless shelter and other services offered.

Kay Borkowski has been involved with the Hospitality House in various positions since the fall of 1993. She and her husband, Frank, moved to Boone when he accepted the chancellor position at Appalachian State University. She sat down with The Mountain Times to discuss the development of the Hearts of Hospitality auxiliary organization and the events that lead to the new facility currently in the works.

Prior to moving to Boone, Borkowski had been active with the Metro Ministries of Tampa, Fla., the organization serving those in need in Tampa. Within a few short months of living in Boone, Borkowski was on the board of directors for the Hospitality House.

“I have been truly blessed in my life and this is a means to payback to my community,” she said. “It breaks my heart to see people who have lost it all for whatever reason it may be. I immediately noticed several needs of the shelter – repairs, equipment, additional funds.”

The Lamp Lighters auxiliary organization of Metro Ministries came to mind. Within a month, Borkowski gathered an estimated 40 women at the chancellor’s house to discuss the possible of forming a similar group to aid the Hospitality House.

Out of that meeting grew the Hearts of Hospitality organization. By the end of the day, there were 30 members and officers were elected. Action was swift by the assembly. The bylaws were written before the next meeting. Members immediately began discussing fundraising ventures.

By the next year, a holiday ball was formed to be held a few weeks before Christmas. The semi-formal event featured dancing, dining a silent auction to benefit the Hospitality House and continued successfully for 12 years. In 2006, auxiliary members opted for a change to a Valentine’s event in hopes of increasing attendance. February 2007 was the first Hearts of Hospitality Ball. The annual event is coming up again in just a few weeks.

This year’s event will be a little different in celebration of the Hospitality House’s combined campaign. Though Borkowski no longer serves on the board of directors of the organization and works solely with the Hearts auxiliary, she and other members decided to turn this ball into a celebration of the combined campaign’s success to date. The cost of tickets has been cut in half to $50 as a thank-you to all of those who have donated.

The large silent auction has been replaced to a smaller “sweetheart auction” of items ranging from romantic getaways to dinner for two at area restaurants.

A Dancing with the Stars theme has been added, with six couples dueling it out for the crown. The couples are: Cay and Andy Harkins dancing disco; Bianca Jacobs and Mark Brayshaw showing off their Latin moves; Kay and George Schiern will be shagging at the Broyhill; Julia and Gerald Adams will dance to beach bop; Frank and Kay Borkowski will demonstrate their Polka talents; and Robin Lane and Andy Glass will be dancing the Cha Cha. Votes will be tallied at the end of night. Votes are counted as $1 per vote and can be made at each couple’s table.

A ball attendees’ competition will follow. Couples will take to the dance floor to the tune of “In the Mood” as judges patrol the dance floor, tapping couples out until one pair remains as the winner.

Music will be provided by the Todd Wright Quartet.

All of the proceeds, less costs, will be donated to the Hospitality House combined campaign. The campaign will officially kick-off in August 2008, with a goal of $3 million to be raised over the course of three years.

It is titled the combined campaign because the monies raised with have dual purpose. The amount is the funding necessary for three year’s operating costs at the current facilities and the amount necessary to complete the new shelter to be located on Bamboo Road.

The campaign kicked off in August, but Borkowski said the Hospitality House board of directors was working long before that with needs assessments and feasibility studies.

The new facility committee formed in January 2007 at the organization’s annual retreat. In early 2007, executive director Lynne Mason, board member Brenda Lyerly and Borkowski traveled to Wilmington to look at new shelters and the programs offered by other organizations. Then board members wrote a program for a new shelter, dimensions necessary, rooms, functions and equipment needs.

Over the next year, board members continued to discuss possible locations for a new facility and working to narrow down a price tag that would be needed to reach the eventual goal.

In January 2008, the Watauga County commissioners donated nearly two acres of land to the Hospitality House located in the Bamboo community for the new facility.

Borkowski said the board immediately began working toward a more specific monetary designation for the project. The $3 million campaign was the result of calculating the funds necessary to continue operation while making a new, improved facility a reality. The amount received from the sale of the current properties and grants already received toward the project were deducted from the construction costs, leaving $1.8 million left to raise. However, Borkowski said the current operating costs could not be left aside while attempting to raise money for the new building. The cost of three-year operation was estimated to be $1.2 million, after calculating grants expected to be received, the total being the $3 million combined campaign.

The Hospitality House has raised, through donations and pledges, $2.3 million of the total goal in less than one year. There have been 450 individual and business contributors, as well as 21 faith congregations joining the effort.

For more information on the combined campaign, visit the Hospitality House Web site at www.hospitalityhouseofboone.org.

This year’s Hearts of Hospitality Ball will be held at the Broyhill Inn & Conference Center on Appalachian State University Campus on Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at High Country Bank locations or by calling Rose Bridgeman at (828) 264-2733. Advance dollar votes can be mailed to Hearts of Hospitality House, care of Rose Bridgeman, 472 Maple Ridge Drive, Boone, N.C. 28607.