A Night of Impact: Celebrating Hope, Building Futures.

Nineteenth Board of Directors Fundraising Reception

On Thursday, October 16, 2025, Friars, Sisters, Benefactors, and members of the dedicated staff of St. Christopher’s Inn gathered for the 19th Board of Directors Fundraising Reception, a fundraising benefit for the lifesaving mission of St. Christopher’s Inn.

The event took place at the renowned Planet Hollywood in New York City. Our 2025 honorees included Roger Ross and Enterprise Association of Steamfitters Local 638 and Matt Butler (songwriter, poet and storytelling). Tom Shillue was our Honorary Chair and Master of Ceremonies, delighting our guests with humor and encouragement during our silent auction, which included ticket packages to Broadway shows and sporting events, as well as specialized gift baskets and other luxury items. Matt Butler surprised guests with a special musical performance at the end of the evening, and everyone was touched by a special video showcasing the Inn; and seeing the success story of one Brother Christopher and how he has reshaped his life and future. To view this special video entitled “A Path Forward”, CLICK HERE.

Along with our honorees, our shiniest stars were our sponsors and supporters who came out to celebrate and fuel the mission of St. Christopher’s Inn.

2025 Honorees

Roger Ross and

Enterprise Association of Steamfitters Local 638

A third-generation steamfitter, began his journey in recovery in 1991 with the help of the Steamfitters Assistance Program. In 2002, he was asked to work with and later run the program. Brother Ross has worked with his members for over 20 years, guiding and supporting them through recovery. He has worked with other unions through the Labor Assistance Professions and instructing at their school in Maryland. His work with St. Christopher’s goes back decades, starting with driving Bronx members seeking recovery to the Inn in 1992. He worked with Fr. Bill Drobach, SA, in the past, helping start a Men’s Retreat in 2005, which is still continuing today. He lives in White Plains, NY with his wife, Ruby and continues to advocate for those suffering from addiction.

Matt Butler

Songwriter, Poet & Storyteller.

Matt Butler Is a songwriter, poet and storyteller as well as the founder of “art that serves“, an organization dedicated to bringing the arts to the incarcerated. His solo show “Reckless SON tells the story of how his concert at the Albany County Jail led to over 100 performances in jails and prisons across the country. Through a powerful combination of “spoken word and song”, humanizes the experience of the incarcerated by giving them voice and telling their stories.Turning a compassionate eye to their lives before, during and after their time behind prison walls, the performance evokes empathy and understanding for those who are all too often considered out of sight and out of mind. It’s a story of hope, forgiveness, and what it means to discover a deeper sense of purpose through service to others. Raising awareness, shifting perspectives, and empowering individuals to create change within their communities.

Honorary Chair and Master of Ceremonies.

Tom Shillue

Comedian, author and TV host.

Tom Shullie is an American stand-up comedian, actor, author, and talk-show host from Norwood, Massachusetts. He was a correspondent on The Daily Show on Comedy Central and hosted Red Eye on Fox News. He has been a supporting cast member “The Greg Gutfeld Show” since the show premiered in 2015. Shillue also serves as a regular host of Fox News Saturday Night. He released his first book, Mean Dads for a Better America: The Generous Rewards of an Old-Fashioned Childhood, in 2017. In June 2017, Shillue began hosting a weekday afternoon three-hour syndicated talk radio show on Fox News Radio, also heard on Sirius XM’s Fox News Talk Channel 450.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

EVENT SPONSORS
Pritchard Industries
Rolex Watch U.S.A.

SILVER SPONSORS
PKF O’Connor Davies
Mechanical Contractors Assoc. of N.Y.

BRONZE SPONSORS
Moore

RUBY SPONSORS
Parish Property MGMT
PCSB Community FDN
Ted Moudis Associates

BENEFACTOR
Gibney, Anthony & Flaherty
NY Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital
NYS Laborers’ Health & Safety Fund
The Estate of Peter Steel Ratajczyk

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO
Mark & Kim Goldberg
Don Ehman
A. James Forbes
Constance Curran
Frank and Lois Gallo
Frank & Geraldine Inzirillo
Brian S. & Family

The nurses are the best part of my day.

The admission process was as fast and painless as it could be.

The medical staff is excellent, they treated me with love and care.

Overall the program and facility at St. Christopher’s Inn is the best, bar none.

Family program is PERFECT please don’t change a thing.

I took part in the GED program and was quite satisfied. I haven’t taken the test yet, but I have very high hopes of passing.

Gained immense knowledge from lectures and treatment plan.

It is very spiritual and I needed the experience.

The care and concern by my counselor and supporting staff shows the love that I didn’t know existed.

Staff is unbelievable, saved my life.

The goals I have reached and the new ones I’ve developed while being here are something of a life changer for me in my future.

I was pleasantly surprised by the existence of the Coffee House. Music is a central and meditative part of my life. The ability to perform for my new brothers here and the staff was unexpected and made this an incredible journey.

I would have nothing if it wasn’t for SCI.

Great people, caring and responsive.

I would like to tell you how thankful I am to you for having this family program available. I want to say thank you for giving me exactly what I needed.

The experience of being here and becoming a member of the Brothers Christopher fraternity has changed my life. Being in the Friars house was a blessing. Their generosity gave me knowledge I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Thank you for the privilege I was given to stay here in your house. God bless you all. I will always keep a piece of St. Christopher’s Inn in my heart.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the hot meals, warm bed and unconditional love you so easily gave to me. I know if it were not for you, I would truly still be a lost soul.

The road to recovery is called Franciscan Way, and the door to happiness lies within the walls of St. Christopher’s Inn.

I never thought someone could care for a drug addict like me. You have shown me that I am worth something. May God bless you a million times.

Thank you for welcoming me in to your home, and granting me a scholarship for treatment. There’s not enough “thank-yous” I could say, so I’m going to show you by staying clean and living a peaceful sober life.

I want to thank you for everything—from my stay here to working in the Thrift Shop. I am so grateful for St. Christopher’s Inn and every staff member that represents this fantastic organization.

I was amazed by the unbelievable generosity of everyone at our Christmas party. A nice scarf and a collared shirt—I have been through hundreds in my life but I have never cared for any of them as I do for these. Thank you for giving me the best Christmas in many, many years.

I love this place. They have given me a place to sleep, food in my stomach, clothes on my back, and a chance at a first-class life. Recovery is here . . . all you have to do is want it!

Today, I am a sober man. I live an honest and simple life. I’m a reliable, employable productive member of society. I have dignity and self-worth and even self-love. All of these things are a direct result of the care and guidance given to me by the Friars and the staff at St. Christopher’s Inn. Some people call it a homeless shelter. I call it home.