FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2007
SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION RECEIVES 29 RED WAGONS
FILLED WITH CARE PACKAGES COURTESY OF BANK OF AMERICA
The wagons will go to the Mission’s Children’s Program and other worthwhile recipients
SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Rescue Mission received 29 red wagons carrying care packages thanks to the roughly 500 participants in Bank of America’s Award of Excellence program, which took place March 1-4 at the historic Hotel del Coronado.
As part of their team-building exercises, teams of associates assembled a children’s wagon piece by piece, then filled the wagon with a care package of diapers, crayons, children’s toys, food, hygiene products and other items. The associates then chose the Rescue Mission to be the recipient of the wagons.
Each year Bank of America rewards high achievers with a trip to a resort location for exceeding specific goals and receiving an Award of Excellence. Less than one-percent of the bank’s associates are chosen to receive the award.
"Bank of America is proud to donate these wagons and care packages to the San Diego Rescue Mission, which serves as a model for helping the homeless get off the street and develop skills needed to re-enter the workforce," said David Ohanian, Bank of America San Diego Market President and Senior Vice President Private Bank Market Executive. As part of the Bank of America spirit of giving back to the community, the bank, in 2005, set a goal to lend and invest $750 billion nationwide over ten years.
"We are grateful for these gifts from the Bank of American and its Award of Excellence program," said Herb Johnson, CEO of the Rescue Mission. "These wagons will delight the children at the Mission and the care package programs will benefit many of our clients, women and children."
The Rescue Mission, providing recovery programs to San Diego’s homeless, addicted and abused for 51 years, is a model for what can be achieved by a private organization that receives no public funding. Now being run by a Harvard MBA, it is the only comprehensive homeless rehabilitation center in San Diego and one of the largest in all of California.
The San Diego Rescue Mission offers emergency shelter for homeless women and children in addition to its comprehensive 12-month program that includes drug recovery and relapse prevention; job training and continuing education; and "One-to-One" counseling.
The Mission does not accept tax money or funding from the government and is solely dependent on donations from individuals and corporations for its programs to help the homeless. The Mission saves San Diego taxpayers more than $50 million a year in services it provides the homeless.
Individuals who wish to make donations or volunteer with the Rescue Mission should call 1-866-SD-MISSION or visit www.sdrescue.org.
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 nearly 440,000 free meals and provides over 120,000 free nights of shelter each year, serving thousands of San Diego’s homeless. The Mission operates without any government or tax dollars for its programs, with funding coming from donations by individuals, corporations and foundations. For more information, visit www.sdrescue.org.
ABOUT BANK OF AMERICA