STAMFORD, CT--(Marketwired - Apr 22, 2015) - Estimations suggest that as many as 3,000 people are homeless on the streets of the city of Baltimore [source: http://www.journeyhomebaltimore.org/index.php], many of whom are families with children. Homelessness is a scourge of modern society, but is a cause, which Des Hague feels particularly passionate about. The acclaimed inspirational speaker and hospitality leader has made it his mission to support charities in a variety of cities across the country, and in Baltimore these efforts focus on reintegrating the homeless with society.

Hague is credited with founding a program known as the "Centerplate Promise," during his tenure as CEO and President of Centerplate, the fastest-growing hospitality group in North America. He established the program to support communities in which his employees work and live. Within the larger umbrella, individual programs were designed and tailored according to the specific needs of the community in question. As a result, Hague and Centerplate Promise became principal sponsors of the Journey Home initiative in Baltimore.

Under the leadership of Des Hague, Centerplate staged numerous remarkable fundraising events in Baltimore, for example "an Evening of Unexpected Delights," a gala held at the city's Convention Center that raised almost $500,000 for the Journey Home. The glamorous event was only a small part of Hague's contribution to Baltimore's 10-year plan to eliminate homelessness in the city: "Centerplate works to enhance the communities in which we live and work. We're extremely pleased to have helped raise over $1.3 million for the Journey Home Campaign over the past three years," observed Hague following the gala. A number of individual projects were funded as part of the overall goal of helping the homeless, including an employment program and a children's coordination plan to support the social and academic needs of the almost 1,000 homeless youth accommodated in the city's shelters.

Countless other charities around the country are regularly supported as part of the Centerplate Promise program. Especially mention-worthy examples are Denver, where a number of scholarships have been awarded for the underprivileged, as well as Seattle, New Orleans, and San Francisco, where valuable funding has been provided to help at risk youth through support of the Juma Ventures program. In addition, larger not-for-profit organizations such as the St Jude's Children's Hospital and United Way have benefited from the philosophical initiatives and the direction of Hague.