Mama's House hosts sold-out luncheon of 900 guests featuring actor Jim Caviezel

Celebrating its 11th anniversary, Mama's House hosted 900 generous and supportive guests Feb. 10 at its annual Heartbeat of Love luncheon at Indian Wells Renaissance Resort & Spa.

This year's luncheon featured keynote speaker Jim Caviezel, TV and film actor, best known for his role in Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" and for his latest international hit "Sound of Freedom," which exposes the horrific world of sex trafficking.

"While filming 'Sound of Freedom,' all I could think about were the children," Caviezel told the crowd. "As a father and a parent, we always want to keep our children safe because we know there will always be those bad people. I kept seeing the suffering of all these children, and that is why I did not stop, I could not stop, and I will not stop. God's children are no longer for sale. This film really affected me. Make no mistake — the battle is not over, because it is a battle for our humanity.

"One of the ways we will win this battle is through places like Mama's House because Mama's House is here to overcome fear, to face challenges and to realize success. I was overwhelmed when I toured Mama's House, because this residence prepares these young mothers with newfound hope for the future. Without your support for Mama's House, nothing will change."

Emily Compagno, co-host of "Outnumbered" on the Fox News Channel, made a special guest appearance at the private VIP reception and luncheon. More than 200 top level donors who attended the reception, which took place at Toscana Country Club, listened intently to Compango's sharp insight and keen wisdom during her presentation.

Luncheon festivities commenced with a silent auction prior to guests entering the ballroom. Program highlights featured invocation by Pastor Jason Duff and an update from board member Floyd Rhoades on the expansion campaign for the Anne Silverstein Campus for Mama's House. A successful paddle raise ensued, prior to Caviezel stepping to the podium, which garnered a standing ovation.

"Because of the overwhelming support of our community, we have just completed another successful Mama's House event, the 11th Annual Heartbeat of Love luncheon," said Jan Lupia, the organization's founder and executive director. "Every year we are asked how in the world are we going to top that next year? The reply is always: 'We can't, but God will.' I have wanted Jim Caviezel to be with us for a long time and even reached out to him a while back. This year, the timing could not have been better because he was meant to come at such a time as this. We had only asked him to speak for 20 to 30 minutes, but he went over and above for about 45 minutes. You could have heard a pin drop in the ballroom as everyone hung on to every word. It was especially powerful when he spoke Bible verses in Aramaic from the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5 about loving others."

For more than 10 years, Mama's House has offered a safe, supportive, loving and nurturing environment for women in crisis, whether pregnant or with an infant and/or small children. All of these women are vulnerable with no place to go and no means of support. At Mama's House these mothers are equipped with necessary life skills for stability, recovery and self-sufficiency. Upon completing the unique, faith-based program, these mothers are prepared for brighter futures with opportunities to reach their full potential as productive members of their communities.

Construction has been completed on a second residential Mama's House property, encompassing six homes for a collection of seven total. This new facility, named the Anne Silverstein Campus for Mama’s House, enables the organization to quadruple the number of moms and infants it will serve.

The day following the annual luncheon, representatives of the nonprofit held a private dedication ceremony for the new campus with top level donors.

"I want to express my gratitude to Jan and Mama's House," said Anne Thompson-Silverstein. "I am so very humbled and honored to have this God-blessed campus named after me. Almost 20 years ago, Jan and I met at a Bible study at Southwest Church in Indian Wells. That was our beginning of a lifetime sisterhood in Christ. Never could I have imagined what would happen, how fast it would happen, how many people would come alongside us.

"There are many more women in crisis who need a solid foundation to stand on, a new path forward and hope for a beautiful future. My question is what better investment of resources can there be than the restoration of broken lives?"

Save the date of Feb. 8, 2025, for the 12th annual Mama's House Heartbeat of Love luncheon.

For more information on Mama's House and its expansion program, visit themamashouse.org, email janlupia@themamashouse.org or call (844) 232-8622 ext. 1 or (760) 406-3413.

Madeline Zuckerman is owner of M. Zuckerman Marketing & Public Relations, Inc., a strategic marketing, branding, public relations and special events firm with offices in Rancho Mirage and Newport Beach, Calif. She is a founder of McCallum Theatre, a board member of the One Valley Foundation, the official nonprofit of the Coachella Valley Firebirds and has been a guest reporter with The Desert Sun for the past 16 years.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Mama's House hosts luncheon of 900 guests featuring Jim Caviezel