November 3, 2006

“Our goal,” said Scott Silverman, executive director and founder of Second Chance, “is to someday put ourselves out of business.”

ROBERT BENSON From left, Ray Ellis, chairman of the Second Chance board; Maria Diaz, a graduate of Strive; and Scott Silverman, founder and executive director of Second Chance, at SeaWorld.

He made that statement at “Celebration of Success,” a party hosted by SeaWorld to honor graduates, past and present, of the Second Chance readiness classes called Strive.

The 100th Strive class had just graduated.

“A Strive class is a three-week, 120-hour, tough-love training program with a two-year follow-up,” Silverman explained. “This is our 13th year, and tonight we're celebrating the 100th class.”

He went on to say, “Second Chance was started to help the homeless, chronically unemployed individual to go back to work. We offer affordable housing, with the idea that you need an address to get a job, and you need a job to keep an address.”

Strive is one of several Second Chance programs designed to help those in need of a second chance.

The “Celebration of Success” attracted more than 500 guests, about 80 of them graduates of Strive.

Among distinguished patrons in the crowd were County Supervisor Greg Cox, City Council members Tony Young and Brian Maienschein, Michelle Silverman (she's Scott's wife), Maggie and Sid Silverman, Stacey and Jon Halberg, Marsi and Eric Gardiner, Chandra and Roi Ewell, and Gina and Ray Ellis. Ray is chairman of the Second Chance board.

Judy and Judge Alex McDonald were there, and so were Cindy and George Olmstead, Andy Fichthorn, Valerie Jacobs, Cindy and Ray Gallagher, Leslie Thorpe, Karen and Richard Taylor, Catherine and Phil Blair, Linda and Mel Katz, and Christina and Jeffrey Wilson.

More were Linda and Jim Nordstrom, Sarena and Jay Talbert, Karan Cooper and Bennet Greenwald, Jerry Miklos, Mary Salas, Rachel and Michael Brau, Lori and Ken Polin, Mike Kirkeby, Barbara and Steve Bieri, and Ralph Marie Ash and David Minton.

The evening began with a performance by Shamu in the “Believe” show, and continued with cocktails and a filet mignon and sea bass dinner in SeaWorld's Nautilus Pavilion.

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