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Real Superheroes of Safe Harbor Gala coming September 21st!
Safe Harbor is introducing the “Real Superheroes of Safe Harbor” gala to the community. For eight years the annual event was known as the “Real Men of St. Tammany” gala, but this year the competition for the Real Superhero of Safe Harbor title will be open to men and women.
These superheroes will work to increase awareness and financial support for the education and prevention of domestic violence. The superhero who raises the most money for Safe Harbor will be named the Real Superhero of the Year at the close of the event.
The Gala will be held Saturday, September 21st at the Northshore Harbor Center, 7pm-11pm.
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Premier Event on the Northshore
The Real Superheroes of Safe Harbor gala is one of the premier events on the Northshore.
Admission includes live music by The New Orleans Mystics, a catered dinner, an open bar, dancing, and a performance by the Pussyfooters marching group. There will also be a silent auction, a live auction and an opportunity to mingle and dance with guests at a superhero themed party.
Cocktail attire is requested, and superhero costumes are always welcome.
Tickets
Tickets are $100 in advance and $125 at the door
Meet the Candidates
Ellen Creel
Ellen McCain Creel graduated from Mississippi College with majors in history and modern languages, concentrating in French and Spanish. As an undergraduate she served as Vice President of the student body, a senator, the student representative on the school’s disciplinary council, and was selected as one of four students campus-wide for the Hall of Fame. Ellen attended LSU Law Center and was awarded the Richard D. Westbrook Scholarship, the John M. Gordon Scholarship, the American Jurisprudence award for the highest grade given in Constitutional law, and was one of five student members selected to the Wex S. Malone American Inn of Court in Baton Rouge. After passing both the Louisiana and Mississippi bar exams, Ellen has spent her entire legal career serving the needs of individuals, businesses, and public government bodies in Washington and St. Tammany Parishes. She has been president of the Washington Parish Bar Association, a member of the LSBA House of Delegates, and is a member of the 22nd J.D.C. Bar Association. Ellen served on the Board of Directors at Bowling Green School, and has spent 20 years on the Board of the Franklinton Association for Challenged Citizens/Washington Parish Activity Center, a non-profit that serves adults with special needs. Together with her husband of 27 years, Brandon, the family attends Clifton Baptist church where Ellen has taught Sunday School and Brandon is a deacon. Their greatest joy has been raising their three boys – Hampton, a junior at MC, Harrison, a sophomore at MC, and Hayes, a 10th grader at St. Paul’s.
Sarah Wagar Hickman
Sarah Hickman is a Mandeville native. She attended St Tammany Parish schools beginning at Mandeville Kindergarten all the way through Mandeville High School. During her time in high school, Sarah was named an All American Soccer Player by the NCAAA and Captained the three time State Runner-Up Mandeville High Soccer Team. Sarah decided against playing college soccer in order to focus on her dream of becoming a lawyer. She attended LSU on a TOPS scholarship from 2004-2008, graduating with a degree in History and French. After graduation Sarah began working as a paralegal and attending Loyola College of Law night school program. She continued to work 30 hours a week as a law clerk while completing her Juris Doctorate from Loyola where she graduated in the top of her class. Today, Sarah is a Partner in her own law firm and has enjoyed a very impressive career despite only practicing for 5 years. Sarah represents victims of medical malpractice as well as parties in Family Law disputes. She handles divorces, child custody, property division and restraining orders. She is an advocate for those who need her help the most and it is that fact that makes her the compassionate and effective advocate she has become. Sarah is unafraid to question authority or the status quo when warranted. She has even been a central figure in the arrest and upcoming prosecution of a medical professional who is alleged to have sexually assaulted over a dozen women under the guise of medical treatment. Sarah’s tenacity is certainly her hallmark. On a personal note, Sarah has been happily married to her husband Chris Hickman, an accomplished CPA and another Mandeville High Graduate, since 2014. They are raising two beautiful boys while balancing the their respective careers. Sarah is also a victim of domestic violence in her own right and has a passion to help, protect and shine a SPOTLIGHT on this extremely important issue that affects so many.
Deanna Lamz
Deanna Hamilton-Lamz, a Slidell resident since 1973, graduated from Salmen High School, Magna Cum Laude from the University of Loyola with a BBA in Management, and a Juris Doctorate from Loyola School of Law. She is also a Louisiana Certified Family/Divorce Mediator. Deanna is a successful woman lawyer who provides sensitivity and balance with the perfect combination of heart and intellect in her solo practice at Lamz Law Firm LLC, where she devotes her practice primarily to family law. Deanna served as Vice President in 1999 and President in 2000 for Safe Harbor Shelter for Battered Women. Having devoted the majority of her professional life to the practice of family law, she saw first-hand the damage caused by batterers and was determined to help provide a safe-haven for the abused women and children of her community (while also noticing an increase in the least often reported abuse of men). Deanna is a past board member of the Slidell Republican Women's Club (SRWC), Slidell Noon Lion's Club, and Greater Slidell Bar Association and she recently served as Family Court Liaison for the 22nd JDC Bar Association and her community involvement has not gone unnoticed. She received awards for SRWC Superior Leadership, Slidell BPW Woman of the Year, Slidell BPW Pat Brown Small Business Award and was a New Orleans City Business "Power Generation" Recipient. Deanna is currently a member of many organizations such as the Steel Mimosas, Greater Slidell Bar, 22nd JDC Bar, Louisiana State Bar, the East St. Tammany Chamber, and is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Slidell. Deanna recently moved to Abita Springs with her husband, Judge Jim Lamz, where they hope to spend many years entertaining their grandchildren, relaxing after a hard day’s work, and continuing to serve the community they call home.
Laurie McCants
Laurie is an extremely active business professional in St. Tammany with many years of active volunteer board involvement, including St. Tammany parish hospital foundation as a 12-year member and 2 year chairperson, St. Tammany chamber of commerce, Safehaven Foundation, Northshore Business Council, leadership St. Tammany Board of Trustees, Northshore "Heartwalk" Co-Chair, and many others. She is also a graduate of Leadership St. Tammany, class of 2002. She was nominated as City Business' Woman of the Year in 2010 and continues to be both a President's Award and Council of Excellence annual winner in her businesses. Laurie leads the success as operating partner of Mercedes-Benz of Covington, Honda of Covington, Honda of Covington Powersports, and Hammond Pre-Owned. She continuously gives generously to many local nonprofits. She has been married to her husband Wayne for almost 18 years and has 3 amazing step-sons - John, Jake, and Adam McCants. Laurie and Wayne are long time members of First Baptist Church of Covington. She has been a resident of Covington for 21 years now and the causes on the Northshore are a top priority with her philanthropy efforts.
Helena Moreno
Helena Moreno is the Councilmember-At-Large and Council President for the City of New Orleans. As a Councilmember - and a Legislator before - Helena’s championed laws to shield victims of sexual assault, to restrict weapons from domestic abusers, and to promote gender equality. Helena began her career in New Orleans as an award-winning investigative reporter for NBC affiliate, WDSU-TV. She was part of a team awarded an Emmy for outstanding coverage during Hurricane Katrina. In 2010, she was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives. While a Legislator, Helena was honored as a champion for women by various organizations. Her work to fight domestic violence in Louisiana is featured in the award-winning documentary film called Five Awake. To continue to advance issues important to women and their families, Helena founded the non-profit Ignite Advocacy Network. It serves as an awareness and policy alert network for individuals interested creating a better Louisiana for women. Helena works as a licensed realtor with Talbot Realty Group in New Orleans and lives uptown with her husband Chris Meeks and her dog Nacho.
Patti Oppenheim
After Patti graduated from LSU and Loyola Law School, where she was an Editor and a member of the Loyola Law Review, she practiced law but found her true passion - serving and protecting families - which she has done for over 20 years. To hone those skills, Patti became certified by the Louisiana State Bar Association to be a Family Law Specialist and also became a child custody mediator to help families resolve their issues out of court. For nearly 10 years, Patti served as Staff Attorney and Hearing Officer for the Hon. Judge Mary Devereux. During her time at Family Court, she helped organize National Adoption Day and Family Court’s annual Court Improvement Day. As a Hearing Officer, she presided over and decided 235 emergency custody hearings and thousands of other family court matters. Patti left the court in September 2018 and she now represent people in custody disputes. In addition to practicing law, Patti served as the President of the local bar association and organized a group of Northshore attorneys who promote civility and professionalism in the practice of law. Patti also serves on the Board of Directors for the Northshore Food Bank, she is a member and past President of the Junior League of Greater Covington, and a graduate of Leadership St. Tammany, and a member of the Republican Professional Women of St. Tammany. Patti and her husband Dan have been married for 35 years. In addition to his day job, Dan serves with the United States Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol, where he performs search and rescue, hurricane relief, and other flights of national and state interest post-disaster. They are the proud parents of three children, Rachel, Rebecca and Ryan, all Mandeville High School graduates.
Cheryl Scaglione
Originally from Chalmette, has been a resident of Slidell since 2004. She is the Assistant Director at The Hospice House, a non-profit, which provides terminally ill patients a place to stay in their final days free of charge. Previously the Director of Open Arms Community Center, part of Open Arms Ministries in Slidell which she currently sits on the governing board. She has an Associate's degree in merchandising and retail management from Nicholls State university where she was a little sister for TKE fraternity. A graduate of Leadership Northshore class of 2016. Her passion is giving back to her community by volunteering for The Real Man of St. Tammany for the last 5 years and previously volunteering at the Crawfish Cook, Northshore on Tap, Wine and Dine non-profit fundraisers which benefit the Hospice House where she now works. Co-directs Camp Bearable which is a grief camp for children 7-12 years old who have lost someone close to them. Supporting other non-profits in St. Tammany Parish, she is a member of the Steel Mimosas, Slidell Ministers Alliance, East and West Chamber of Commerce, Social Services Network and Professional Women of St. Tammany. She is married to Mark Scaglione for 29 years and has two children: Reed and Mya.
Scott Shook
Sensei Scott Shook is a local son of St Tammany Parrish, spending his early years in Mandeville pursing his passions for martial arts while attending Fontainebleau High, before finishing HS at a military academy with top honors and earning a degree in Exercise Science. Feeling called to continue his service for his country, Mr. Shook enlisted in the United States Navy, where he spent 3 ½ continuous years deployed with the Navy’s leading Combat Search and Rescue Squadron. After making the decision to return home and follow his ultimate dream of becoming a full time professional martial artist, he was offered the opportunity to return home and run the Dojo he grew up in. Mr. Shook has been a member of the US National Karate Team for 3 years. After winning multiple National and World Championships he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018 and is still a current National and World champion. Mr. Shook has raised several thousand dollars for the Physical Education departments of multiple St Tammany Parrish schools through various fundraisers and after school programs. He continues to give back to the youth of his community, as well as multiple others around the country through mentorship, and training, and seeks to not just lead, but to lead by example. Through the very nature of his programs, as well as his Women’s Self Defense Programs, Sensei Shook seeks to empower those under his instruction to be self-aware, self-confident, and to cultivate their inner strength and resources to be the champions of their own lives, not the victims.
J. Collin Sims
Collin Sims grew up in Mandeville graduating from St. Paul’s High School in 1999. He attended Mississippi College on a leadership scholarship and graduated with honors. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. He has spent his entire legal career as a criminal prosecutor, beginning as an Assistant District Attorney in New Orleans in 2006, and shortly became one of the youngest Assistant US Attorneys in the country. In 2015, he became Chief of the Criminal Division for District Attorney Warren Montgomery, serving St. Tammany and Washington Parishes. Collin remained cross-designated as a Special Assistant US Attorney until 2017. He received the award for Financial Case of the Year, Gulf Coast Region High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area from the Director of the DEA. In 2016, he received the FBI Director's Award, the agency’s highest award, for National Outstanding Criminal Investigation of the Year and the Excellence in Law Enforcement Award from the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission. Collin serves on the Board for the Children’s Advocacy Center “Hope House.” In 2018, the DA’s office began collaborating with Safe Harbor, community leaders, and law enforcement agencies to start the Domestic Violence Coordinated Community Response Team. This team is a multi-disciplinary partnership that focuses on providing access to domestic violence and sexual assault services that enhance victim safety and privacy. The changes have resulted in a more than 200% reduction in the number of domestic violence cases dismissed. Collin met his wife Elizabeth while attending college and had the honor of marrying her on November 26, 2005. Elizabeth is a Family Nurse Practitioner for Dr. Elizabeth White’s office in Covington, LA. She also volunteers as a children’s advocate with CASA. They have three beautiful children together; Sophia, Clay, and Everett and live in Covington, LA.
Barry Smith
New Orleans native that’s a entrepreneur of all things dealing with fitness. Barry is currently running many companies. He owns FUEL Center of Fitness in Metairie, Louisiana. From this, his franchise concept FitPro was born. He also owns FIRST TEAM Athletic Apparel and POUND CAKES protein pancake mix. You’ll find all of Barry’s brands featured on Bravo TV’s, Southern Charm New Orleans, where he’s one of the stars of the show.
Married to Ch. 26 news anchor Tamica Lee for almost 12 years, they have 2 beautiful children. Hunter 17 and Rani 10. Barry holds his family as his top priority and supports his wife in all her many endeavors. He’s a firm believer that you should always want your partner win, as bad as they want you to win.
Gerald Sticker
Chief Gerald Sticker was born in Covington and raised in Ponchatoula. He enlisted in the U.S.M.C. Reserve immediately after graduating Ponchatoula High School in 1986, and he was deployed between 1990-1991 to the first Gulf War, earning, amongst other citations, a Combat Action Ribbon and Navy Achievement Medal. Gerald began his law enforcement as a reserve police officer in 1992 with the City of Mandeville, before accepting a fulltime position in the department’s criminal patrol division in 1995. Chief Sticker rose through the ranks within the department over the years, obtaining his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice along the way from Liberty University. He was appointed to the position of Chief of Police in August of 2016 where he currently serves. Gerald is most proud of his family; wife Tonia, two sons, three stepdaughters and two grandsons.
Sponsorships
The Defenders: $600
- One-Half Reserved Table for 5 Guests
- Name Listed Online & in Program
The Incredibles: $1000
- One Reserved Table for 8 Guests
- Name Listed Online & in Program
X-Men: $1,500
- One Reserved Table for 10 Guests
- Name with Logo Listed Online & in Program
Fantastic Four: $2,000
- Two Reserved Tables for 16 Guests
- Name with Logo Listed Online & in Program
Justice League: $5,000
- Two Reserved Tables for 20 Guests
- 6 General Admission Tickets
- Unique Table Signage
- Name with Logo Prominently Listed Online & in Program
- Recognition at Event
Guardians of the Galaxy: $10,000
- Three Reserved Tables for 30 Guests
- 10 General Admission Tickets
- Unique Table Signage
- Specialty Drink Glasses
- Name with Logo Prominently Listed Online & in Program
- Recognition at Event
Avengers - Presenting Sponsor: $15,000
- Recognition at Gala as Presenting Sponsor
- Print and Press Media for the Event
- Link to Company from Website
- Three Reserved Tables for 30 Guests
- Specialty Drink Glasses
- 20 General Admission Tickets
- Unique Table Signage
- Name with Logo Listed as Presenting Sponsor Online, on Gala Materials and on Subsequent Promotional Materials
You can also call Jessica Karr at (504) 352-6462 for more information.
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Safe Harbor is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-government agency in St. Tammany Parish serving survivors and their minor children who are victims of domestic abuse.
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