Month: September 2009

A Football All-American Life Transformed

Several years ago, I received a phone call from a writer at Sports Illustrated, asking me if I could connect him with a man who was homeless on the streets of Pasadena, CA, Eugene Jones.  The writer said that he would love to connect with Eugene, who he described as possibly the best linebacker prospect the Nation had ever seen in the late 1970’s.  I told him that I would ask Eugene if he was interested the next time that I saw him. 

I saw Eugene a short time later and asked him about the interview.  “Yes, I played with James McAlister and Kermit Johnson for Blair High School.  We were undefeated, 13-0, and then I played at UCLA.  I am not ready to be interviewed at this time of my life and in the current shape I am in.” 

I Google-searched Eugene’s football background and this is what I found from the Sports Illustrated Vault and other news reports from that era:

 

“When McAlister graduated from high school, the recruiters lined up three deep. He had three close friends at Blair: Kermit Johnson, another running back; Eugene Jones, a 6’3″, 230-pound tight end; and Billy Williams, a 6’1″, 190-pound defensive back.

To the surprise of no one, James McAlister was a runaway pick as Player of the Year in “AAAA” division football for 1969 as Southern California sports journalists met at Helms Hall to make their annual all-star football team selections. Since 1937, members of the southland press have gathered to select the top high-school grid stars and in turn honor them for their collective gridiron exploits. The 1969 season was a banner year, as records were toppled right and left.

McAlister and running mate Kermit Johnson rolled up over 4,000 yards between them in rushing offense for the season… a remarkable and unmatched feat in the southland. McAlister’s total of 2,168 yards is third best in local history, with his career mark (4,367 yards) second only to Mickey Cureton’s 4,920 yards.

The 6-foot-one, 200-pound fullback scored 31 touchdowns over the season and a total of 228 points, third best 1n CIF history. Glenn Davis set the record of 236 in 1942 and then Centennial’s Mickey Cureton set the current mark of 240 in 1966.

The Foothill League champions charged through their divisional playoff chores, whipping Bishop Amat in the finale 28-27…and more impressively than the score indicated. In the three earlier playoff encounters the Vikings murdered Hueneme 62-0 …ran away from Santa Monica 44-19 and sneaked past Lakewood 24-19, before doing in the Angelus League co-champion Lancers. It is interesting to note that Coach Pete Yoder, who directed the title-winning Vikings, also quarterbacked Downey High to the CIF title back 1n 1957. Coach Pete was an All-ClF first-team pick that year.

 

ALL-SOUTHERN SECTION “AAAA” TEAM — 1969

FIRST TEA M

POSITION   PLAYER

End………..JOHN MoKAY

End………..EUGENE JONES

Tackle…….RANDY IVEY

Taok1e……SAM THAD

Guard……..MIKE HANNA

Guard……..LEE GARCIA

Center…… NICK BUCKIVIEYER

Backer…….FORRIE MARTIN

Backer…….PAUL MORO

Back……..*JAMES McALISTER

Back………KERMIT JOHNSON

Back………PAT HADEN

Back………GEORGE FRASER

Back………PAT McPARTLAND

Gradually I got to know Eugene better, and I was always impressed with his strong handshake and gentle manners.  He is a big man, and I sensed in several challenging situations that he always had my back.  He was struggling with some kind of addition, probably crack cocaine, for decades, and didn’t talk much, but he was always polite and kind to me.  I tried to encourage him to enter into programs and get help.  He sometimes rode his bike by my house and we’d talk briefly.  The last time I saw him living on the streets, he came into a Von’s grocery store and with all the money that he had was trying to buy a little something at the counter.  “Are you hungry?” I asked.  Eugene said, “Yes!”  I told him to get what he needed and I would treat him.  He came back with a loaf of bread, stack of sandwich meat, jar of mayonnaise, and a gallon of lemonade.  I told him, “Eugene, I am now the head of Union Rescue Mission in downtown Los Angeles, and if you will come in and get clean, I will find a job for you.” 

I didn’t see Eugene for several months, possibly over a year.  Then he showed up looking clean, with some of his weight back on, and beaming with pride.  “Andy, I just completed a program, I am in a halfway house, and I am here to apply for a job!” There is no way I would not keep my word.  Our Human Resources director interviewed Eugene, twice, and hired him as an usher/attendant for our guests at Union Rescue Mission.  He is doing a spectacular job, and he is letting me tell his story, of a life transformed. 

eugene

80th Birthday Celebration Brings Love and Hope to Skid Row

Last Saturday, September 26th, the Biddy Mason Foundation brought together people from all across the city to celebrate Rev. Dr. Cecil “Chip” Murray’s 80th birthday and assist many people living on Skid Row.

Volunteers gathered in the morning for service projects at Union Rescue Mission and the surrounding area. At 1:00pm, festivities began in the San Julian Park. The afternoon was kicked off with a party for local children complete with face-painting, cotton candy, and snow cones! Over 500 people were able to enjoy hotdogs and hamburgers, meet with a job recruiter, and watch amazing performances by J’n’J Soulful Steps and The Spiritual Hi-Tones. The party was complete with cake and the singing of “Happy Birthday” led by Mayor Villaraigosa. Volunteers also handed out water to Skid Row residents, which was much-appreciated on a hot summer afternoon!

DSC00677

Union Rescue Mission was delighted to be able to be a part of the celebration. Rev. Andy Bales commented, “What an honor it was to be invited to celebrate the One who sent legendary Rev. Dr. Chip Murray to Los Angeles. We were proud to assist Rev. Murray and 1st AME Church as they brought love and hope to the people on Skid Row for his 80th Birthday Celebration.”

DSC00661

 

Rev. Murray joined the faculty of USC’s School of Religion after retiring from pastor of First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME). Throughout his 27-years as FAME’s pastor, Rev. Murray transformed a small congregation of 300 into an 18,000 person church, with multi-million dollar community and economic development programs that have brought jobs, housing, and corporate investment to many neighborhoods in South Los Angeles. He is known throughout the community for his passion to have African American Church leaders of the Civil Rights generation pass on their years of experience, spiritual authority, and political pragmatism to the next generation. In 2005, he was appointed by Mayor Villaraigosa to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Commission (LAHSA) which coordinates and manages over $70 million annually in Federal, State, County and City funds for programs which provide shelter, housing and services to those experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.

DSC00668

Union Rescue Mission would like to send a warm thank-you to everyone who participated in the celebration; it is always a blessing to join with others to bring hope to those who need it the most.

New Los Angeles City Attorney Endorses Cedillo Bill on Counterfeit Goods

(Los Angeles) – State Senator Gilbert Cedillo, Shelter Partnership, and Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich gathered atop the Union Rescue Mission in the early morning sun to announce the new city attorney’s support for SB 324 and urged the Governor to sign the bill.

SB 324 would enable confiscated counterfeit goods to be donated to non-profits serving families and individuals experiencing homelessness or economic hardship. Shelter Partnership approached Cedillo, who has authored several bills on homelessness issues, with an opportunity to repurpose the goods. Under current law upon conviction or close of the case all counterfeit items are destroyed by incineration or dumped into landfills. Ruth Schwartz, Executive Director of Shelter Partnership which runs a 108,000 sq. foot clearinghouse of donated goods that are distributed to local service provides, and the attorney responsible for the Identity Theft and Fraud Unit in the Office of the City Attorney worked with Cedillo to draft the language of the bill. Provisions were made in the bill to protect intellectual property rights and electronics so items such as DVDs and televisions would not be included. SB 324 does enable the prosecuting attorney to ask the judge to permit a trademark owner to donate the goods rather than destroying items at the close of a case.

“Each year, law enforcement agencies seize millions of dollars in counterfeit merchandise. And make no mistake – we are fully committed to aggressively prosecuting those who illegally profit from prated trademarks. Yet in almost all of those cases, the merchandise seized is destroyed by court order. I am proud to stand here with my friend Gil Cedillo and Downtown LA’s hard-working service providers in support of good common-sense legislation,” remarked Trutanich. 

The numbers of families and individuals encountering homelessness is equally concerning. At the press conference Rev. Andy Bales, the CEO of Union Rescue Mission, shared stories from the past year on the “tsunami” of people seeking assistance at the facility. Of the 223 families seeking shelter at URM from January through August of this year, 52.4% were experiencing homelessness for first time; 84.1% reported receiving benefits of some sort. The primary causes leading to homelessness were financial hardship, eviction, or job loss.

“The numbers and increases are incredible, but the picture of the many families living in tent like structures, called EDARS, in our chapel, community rooms, and conference rooms is an even more amazing sight to behold. The volume of people who get in line for one of our nine meals per day is also staggering,” shared the Reverend. “We need to recommit ourselves to the issue of homelessness and continuously push for creative options to help families and individuals stay in their homes or quickly recover; SB 324 is one of those options. I urge the Governor to sign this bill.” 

“I am honored to have the support of the city’s new City Attorney Carmen Trutanich and appreciate the significant contributions the office has made to SB 324 over the past year. I am also grateful to partner with Shelter Partnership, URM, and the other service providers to bring about the basic, and more impertinently the systemic changes, needed to end homelessness. I hope the Governor will sign the bill and put good intentions to work.”

Good Things Happen When Folks Step Up To Meet a Need

In my last blog I told a story of a young man who asked me how a 16 year old could get a job. I learned the next day that he was considering dropping out of school to work so that his single mom, brother and he could stay in their home. I asked a local company that works with us on our direct mail, Grizzard, http://www.Grizzard.com, to consider hiring this polite young man for a job at their Glendale office after school, AND THEY ARE HIRING HIM!

I shared Daniel’s story with Reba Toni, of KKLA Radio, 99.5 FM, and she not only shared it on KKLA but also on KFISH 95.9 FM, Christian Music Radio. A friend of mine who works in Hollywood heard the story and called me for information on how to connect with Daniel’s mom, and hire her!

This one instance of a family being rescued with employment, before suffering the devastating effects of homelessness, has encouraged us to launch a new outreach program beginning with area churches/houses of faith. We’re asking them to look for a family in their vicinity that they can come alongside and help prevent the family from becoming homeless with financial counseling, job networking, free daycare for children, food pantry assistance and in other ways. In addition, we are inviting the churches/houses of faith to come alongside a family already devastated by homelessness and partner/mentor them as they move out of homelessness. Truly, if each church in LA would take these two steps, we could put an end to family homelessness in Los Angeles. If you would like to get your church involved please contact me at: abales@urm.org.

Thanks to all who stepped up to help this one family! That is how the battle will be won; one family at a time!

Blessings,
Andy B.

Operation School Bell Comes to URM

School time is almost here!  In preparation for the new school year, Union Rescue Mission partnered with Operation School Bell and UCLA School of Nursing to provide much needed supplies and services to the families of URM.

Operation School Bell is a service project of the Assistant League of Southern California, where they provide new clothing, shoes and personal grooming products to over 5,500 children from families with need every year.  On September 2nd, they partnered with Union Rescue Mission where they provided these much needed school supplies to 230 children from Union Rescue Mission and the Skid Row area.

San Julian

Over 50 volunteers from the Anne Banning Auxiliary, Huron Consulting and the LAPD Explorers Program provided personal attention to the kids, fitting them with new clothes and new shoes for the school year.

Books

After picking out a new backpack, children were able to pick new books and school supplies, such as notebooks and pencils. The children will be all ready to go for the new school year!

Health

In addition to school supplies, Union Rescue Mission also partnered with UCLA School of Nursing to provide much needed health care to families.  Both parents and children were able to receive physical exams and immunizations.

Thank you Operation School Bell and UCLA School of Nursing for blessing families with much need care and supplies!