San Diego Rescue Mission: Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2005

SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION TO CELEBRATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH DEDICATION OF NEW 94,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY
San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne to Make Keynote Speech

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Rescue Mission today announced it will celebrate 50 years of service to San Diego's homeless with the official grand opening and dedication of its new facility at 120 Elm Street on Thursday, Sept. 22, at 5 p.m. The event will include a keynote address by San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne, a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring Deputy Mayor Toni Atkins, plaza reception, building dedication, and official program.

"We are celebrating this milestone with mixed emotions. We wish the Rescue Mission wasn't needed, but we are happy that we have made such progress in our programs to help the homeless recover the lives God intended," said Jim Jackson, Jr., president and CEO of the San Diego Rescue Mission. "The Rescue Mission offers the only programs of its kind for rehabilitating the homeless and helping them become contributing members of society. We are also thankful that we are able accomplish this entirely through charitable contributions from our generous donors and do not have to rely on government funding."

Sponsors for the event include Canyon Pottery Co., Chantilly Bakery, Dixieline Employees Contribution Club, Ghirardelli Chocolate, Golden Ink Litho, Groovy Like a Movie Media Production, Honest Tea, KCBQ/KPRZ radio, KUSI-TV, Ranch & Coast magazine, Restaurant Tea Service of San Diego, Specialty Produce, Starbucks Coffee and Tarantino Wholesale Foods.

The oldest program of its kind in San Diego, the San Diego Rescue Mission opened its doors in 1955 in a former poker parlor on "G" street. 50 years and three relocations later, the Rescue Mission has grown to help tens of thousands of men, women and children get back on their feet.

Each of the Rescue Mission's three core programs emphasizes building the skills needed for lasting recovery from the problems that cause homelessness. Rescue Mission programs serve homeless men; homeless women and their children; and women and children who are victims of domestic violence. The Rescue Mission's new home, located in the old Harborview Hospital building on Elm Street, include overnight lodging for the homeless people in their recovery programs; a kitchen and dining hall; a gym and recreation area; a library; classrooms and computer labs; children's nurseries and many other facilities crucial to the Rescue Mission's holistic life-changing recovery programs.

ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION
Every day, the lives of homeless men, women, and children are changed at the San Diego Rescue Mission. The Mission's long-term programs provide the physical necessities, vocational training, and spiritual encouragement needed to truly turn their lives around. The San Diego Rescue Mission prepares over 350,000 free meals and provides over 120,000 free nights of shelter each year, serving thousands of San Diego's homeless. For more information, visit www.sdrescue.org.

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