Handicapped Encounter Christ
2007 Fundraising Banquet

HEC held it's second annual fundraising banquet on Friday, May 11, 2007 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Cary, NC. Special guests included HEC Alumna Leslie A. Smith, MD, and Gifted Musician Jeff Bray. Leslie shared with us her story of grace: a journey through depression and homelessness to earning her medical degree Jeff, the former music director at Immaculate Conception
Church in Durham, shared great live music throughout the evening.

The second annual Dick Stubbings awards were awarded to David Hamerka for his many years of involvement in HEC and to our keynote speaker, Leslie A. Smith, for leadership as former HEC Director. An appeal was made for donations, both of time and money, to support HEC programs. Executive Director, Brent Heiser, reported that participation in HEC programs was growing including the largest Christmas party in the organization's history. Heiser also reported that HEC had been awarded several grants and that the Diocese of Raleigh continues to support HEC as a unique and important program in Eastern North Carolina.