Mission Possible for Second Century

The Union Rescue Mission broke new ground at the Beverly Hilton Wednesday night as a way of celebrating a ground-breaking ceremony coming this June. The downtown mission held the first black-tie gala in its 99-year history to honor supporters of its Second Century Campaign. Including the $50,000 raised from the gala, they’ve amassed almost $11 million of the $16 million needed to build the mission’s new home to serve the poor and homeless on Skid Row.

“These are people who have said, ‘We’re a team. We’re family. We’re really going to make it happen,’ ” said mission vice president John Savage. “They have the heart to solve the problem and they want to stick with it long-term.

“Around the country there’s a debate between shelter and programs,” said Savage. “Some say if we build more shelters we solve the problem. Our perspective is we want to make a long-term investment in our men, women and children--up to two years for a permanent solution.”

A model of the new facility, to be built at 6th and San Julian streets, was on display during the cocktail hour and while Savage pointed to it proudly he also said the mission “is so much more than just that building. The building is a tool towards the end.”

The mission’s goal is to help homeless people permanently rehabilitate themselves. “They have programs that take 12 to 15 months to restore people emotionally, physically and mentally,” said Security Pacific chief operating officer John Singleton, who co-chaired the fund-raising campaign with Mayor Tom Bradley. “They teach people trades, skills, how to handle money, how to get to work, how to handle responsibility. Then, when they put people back in the work force, they stay in the work force.”

Honored for their work in helping to fund the building and its programs were nearly 100 individuals and corporations. The dinner was emceed by Casey Kasem and included an invocation from Rev. Lloyd J. Ogilvie; a flag salute by Askia Abdul Majeed, a mission employee; the national anthem by singer Robbie Britt; the awards presentation by Johnny Grant and Joyce DeWitt; a performance by comic Fred Travalena; a dance number on homelessness choreographed by Bob Banas; an emotional keynote speech by Ben Vereen (“If we don’t do something about this problem it’s going to bring this country to its knees,” he said); short speeches by Bradley and Singleton, and finally a half-hour set by singer Tony Bennett.

It was a long night, but it was for a charity with a long history. “The mission has a track record second to none,” said Kasem. “They’ve been doing it for 100 years and they’ve been doing it right.”