Valley Youth House’s “Setting the Stage with Rod Stewart” raised $304,000 to support youth and families in the Greater Lehigh Valley region.

The event began with a reception at Renaissance Allentown Hotel, during which community leaders and Valley Youth House alumni highlighted the agency’s work.

Chris Martin, Executive Chairman, C.F. Martin & Co., Inc., and Thomas Ripsam, President & CEO, C.F. Martin & Co., Inc., were recognized as the event’s “Distinguished Honorees,” according to a March 19 Valley Youth House press release

Co-Chairs Vicki Doulé, Lehigh Valley Executive Vice President, Community Impact & Market Development, Capital Blue Cross; Laurie Hackett, Corporate and Community Relations, Air Products; Matthew Kenendy, Director of Custom Shop Sales, Administration and Support, C.F. Martin & Co., Inc., and Ken Telfort, Corporate Vice President, Business Process Excellence, B. Braun Medical, Inc., were recognized for their leadership.

During the reception, a custom-made D-28 Martin Guitar with a Valley Youth House mother-of-pearl inlay custom pick guard was auctioned.

The D-28 was crafted and donated by C.F. Martin & Co., Inc. It is a one-of-a-kind instrument that has an interior label signed by Chris Martin, Thomas Ripsam and Tom Harrington, President & Executive Director, Valley Youth House, and a signature on its body by Rod Stewart.

Keynote speaker was Destiny Jarnagin, a Life Skills Case Manager & Family Advocate for Valley Youth House. She was the “Setting the Stage” youth speaker nearly a decade ago when she was a member of Valley Youth House’s Adolescents Achieving Independence Program.

“I came into foster care when I was fourteen with my brother and five other siblings. You could say my life felt like a leaf in a wind storm,” she said.

“Last October, a dream beyond reality happened when I was hired at Valley Youth House. Many of my clients are still in foster care or have experienced homelessness.

“With your support, we are able to help them get apartments, education, jobs and learn basic life skills to be successful. The work I do with Valley Youth House is truly a full circle moment for me,” Jarnagin said.

“The backing we received for this event demonstrates our supporters’ commitment to some of the most vulnerable children in our community,” said Harrington.

“Our job is to get young people into a safe space and a positive environment where they can heal from any past trauma. And we do that by surrounding them with dedicated individuals like you,” Harrington said.

After the reception, guests at the event attended the Rod Stewart March 14 concert in PPL Center.

“Setting the Stage” is Valley Youth House’s signature fundraising event, celebrating the impact that supporters have on the lives of vulnerable individuals in the Greater Lehigh Valley region. Proceeds benefit programs and services Valley Youth House provides to youth and families.