On November 9, HomeFree-USA co-founders Jim Griffin (COO) and Marcia Griffin (President and CEO) are thrilled to be honored at the 52nd Annual Golden Gala Joseph Wharton Award Dinner, recognizing six leading Wharton & Penn alumni for their exceptional accomplishments and contributions. 

About our fearless leaders, they write: “Jim Griffin, WMBA’71, COO, & Marcia Griffin, CEO, HomeFree USA, have helped over 50,000 families obtain homes they might not have otherwise been able to afford.” And that is annually, with the help of our national network of 50+ HUD-approved counseling organizations. 

HomeFree-USA has been committed to closing the wealth gap by advancing financial education, diverse talent recruitment, business partnerships, affordable housing, and equitable access to credit since 1994.

Fellow honorees include:

• • Sam Spiritos, W’84, Esq., Managing Shareholder of Shulman Rogers, the largest law firm in Montgomery County.
  • David Quattrone, W’96, EE’96, Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer of Cvent, the global leader in event, meeting and hospitality technology
  • Lee Corey, W-CIMA, Managing Director & Sr. Consultant, MorganStanley, leading one of the best financial services teams and supporting worthy nonprofits
  • Jamey Jeff, WMBA’10, Head of Investments, Amazon Web Services, the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud
  • Billy Shore, C’77, Co-Founder & Executive Chair, Share Our Strength: No Kid Hungry, who has helped millions of American children get needed meals

The elegant awards dinner will take place at the Park Hyatt Washington, featuring the Michelin-starred cuisine of Blue Duck Tavern, led by celebrity chef Jean-Claude Plihon. 200+ Club members and guests, including prominent Washingtonians and diplomats, are expected to attend. Many thanks to Wharton Club DC President Alan N. Schlaifer (Principal, Law Offices of Alan N. Schlaifer) for spearheading this prestigious event.

This award truly recognizes the collaborative efforts of our entire community: HomeFree-USA team, affiliates, and partners. Please join us in celebrating!