Doing The Most Good Luncheon - "It Takes an Army"
GUESTS AT THE SALVATION ARMY’S DOING THE MOST GOOD LUNCHEON SEE AWARD CONFERRED AND WITNESS PREMIERE OF LOCAL FILM LAUNCHING NEW CAMPAIGN: “IT TAKES AN ARMY”
Prestigious Doing The Most Good award conferred on centenarian philanthropist and leader Lloyd Lochridge
AUSTIN – April 2018 – Presented by The Cain Foundation and hosted by Bob Cole of KOKE FM, the Doing The Most Good Luncheon opened with the world-renowned Harbor Light Choir and then treated guests to live music and the premiere of The Salvation Army’s new local film, It Takes an Army, produced by Ramy Antoun on April 12 at the JW Marriott. The film wove voices of local Salvation Army leadership along with stories of two local families whose lives were transformed by The Salvation Army programs.
The Salvation Army Advisory Board Life Member, Lloyd Lochridge, was presented with the Doing The Most Good award for his dedicated life of service and generosity. By the end of the luncheon, the crowd of 600 raised almost $260,000 to help prevent and end homelessness in Travis and Williamson counties and to help fund The Salvation Army’s expanding services.
Mr. Lochridge was thanked for his commitment to The Salvation Army Advisory Board, serving for more than 50 years. Recently celebrating his 100th birthday this year, Mr. Lochridge personifies how one life can impact the lives of many in the future.
Major Andrew Kelly, Salvation Army Area Commander, launched The Doing The Most Good Luncheon by providing an update on local construction projects, including the new Rathgeber Center for Women and Children which address the needs of a rapidly growing population of families experiencing homelessness by providing emergency shelter, case management, and support services. Major Kelly highlighted the long wait list of women and children currently in line to receive emergency shelter, an average of 344 women and children for the last 12 months: 67 single women, 82 mothers and 195 children.
“With the construction of these new facilities, we are looking to the future and striving to bridge the gap for those in greatest need,” said Major Kelly. “With these projects, we will address the ongoing waiting list and increase the number of people we serve from our community – men, women, children, families, veterans, youth – as we help them on their journey from homelessness to self-sufficiency.”
Click HERE to see Major Kelly’s performance of “Precious Lord, Lead Me Home” during the luncheon program.
Featured in the film, the Hershkovitz family of six were living out of their small car two years ago when they reached out to The Salvation Army for help. Once a room became available, the family was able to get into emergency shelter. Similarly, the Castillo family lived with one friend after another until they ended up out on the streets. Then they called The Salvation Army and got a room in the Austin Shelter for Women and Children. Today, both families have their own apartments and have been self-sufficient for more than a year. Their relief and gratitude are palpable.
Advisory Board Chair Mike Nasi focused on how support of Hurricane Harvey relief and recovery last year diverted urgently-needed local resources to other fellow Texans in need. The local need remains to support families who navigate the daily disaster of homelessness. The new campaign, #ItTakesAnArmy, is focused on raising the funds needed to provide services for these families.
“Following Hurricane Harvey, we rallied to help our fellow Texans in need and diverted precious resources to move families from crisis to stability in the wake of the natural disaster,” explained Mike Nasi. “The crisis of family homelessness in Austin is an unnatural disaster, and we are working every day to help these families move from homelessness to self-sufficiency in the form of improved employment and safe housing.”
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