Riding a Roller Coaster to a Better 2020: Jesús and His Daughter, Alice
Planned Giving: Don’t Let Your IRA Benefit Expire
How Your Kindness and Compassion Can Double to SAVE MORE LIVES 
Notes from Andy
RIDING A ROLLER COASTER TO A BETTER 2020: JESÚS AND HIS DAUGHTER, ALICE
It was a Monday. My wife and I, along with our 11-year-old daughter, Alice, lived in Colorado.
Before I left for work that morning, my wife asked, “Do you mind if I go up to Denny’s and get us some breakfast?” I said, “Sure,” as I handed her my bank card. She left—and never came back. I soon learned that my wife was a meth addict, and I had no idea. I never saw it. After she left that morning, she cleaned out our savings. I had no money whatsoever, not even to pay the rent. Almost overnight, Alice and I were stranded and homeless. All I could do was sell the few possessions we had left, enough for a few nights in a motel and two tickets to Los Angeles, where I’m from, and where I knew we had a chance to start over.
THE ONLY PLACE IN TOWN FOR SINGLE DADS
When we got here, I had $20 left and everything we owned fit in a backpack. We headed straight to Union Rescue Mission because it’s the only place in Los Angeles that helps single dads. When we walked inside here, they welcomed us with open arms. I can’t tell you what that meant to Alice and me. We were safe. We had a long way to go, but we were going to get back on our feet. I just knew it.
From day one, our case manager helped us start putting it all back together. Clothes, meals, and hygiene products. Then we got Alice enrolled in school and went to the DMV to get my ID. I got my teeth fixed at the dental clinic here. They gave me a part-time job, and I’ve already interviewed for a full-time job. Everything’s slowly coming together.
MY DAUGHTER IS THE REASON I NEVER GIVE UP
For me, it’s really all about Alice. She is so strong, and I’m so proud of her. She’s my silent partner, the reason why I get up every day, the reason I never give up. I couldn’t do any of this without her. She’s my everything. So one of the reasons I’m so grateful for Union Rescue Mission is the love and support they’ve shown to her.
I won’t lie, 2019 has been an emotional roller coaster. Going through this isn’t easy. But thanks to donors like you, 2020 is looking up because a proud daddy and his little girl are going to make it. Thank you!
Alice: “I’m proud because I have my dad.”
All the classes, therapy, mentoring, and guidance I received here changed my life, but nothing was more important than meeting Jesus. I never met a man like Him before. From day one, the closer I grew to Jesus, the more I wanted Him to hold me and to love on me. And He did. He healed my wounded heart in ways I never thought possible.
So we spent last Christmas in the presence of Jesus. My daughter opened Christmas presents for the first time in her life. I got a Christmas present, too. Jesus gave me hope and a future. He gave me a new life.
Jesus was sent from heaven to make it all possible. But I think you’re heaven-sent, too, because Jesus used people like you to give me this new life. Merry Christmas!
More single dads like Jesús, and other parents struggling to build a stable life for their children, need help today. Will you give now? Your gift will DOUBLE when you give by midnight PST, December 31!
THE GREATEST MAN-MADE CRISIS IN THE U.S. TODAY
Although we’re a city named for angels, Los Angeles contains more people who are homeless than anywhere else in the country. In fact, 1 out of 10 people who are homeless in America lives in LA. That’s more than 59,000 men, women, and children living on our streets, in cars, cheap motels, homeless shelters, and in SROs (single-room occupancy buildings) throughout Los Angeles. It is the greatest man-made crisis in the United States today.
Three people die every day from homelessness in LA. Illness, addiction, accidents, suicide, and the ravages of being unsheltered are among the primary causes of death. In fact, more people die from hypothermia in LA than in New York and San Francisco combined.
More than 1,000 people devastated by homelessness are expected to die on our sidewalks, along riverbeds, and in tents, parks, shelters, vehicles, motels, and hospitals in 2019.
The average age of death is 51.
10 times as many people died of complications of homelessness in Los Angeles than died of natural disasters, including fires, in all of California.
BUT YOU ARE SAVING LIVES AND OFFERING HOPE
Thanks to caring people like you, Union Rescue Mission offers a way off the streets through holistic solutions that transform lives body, soul, and spirit—one precious person at a time. Here are just a few of the lives you’ve changed . . .
TOGETHER, WE'RE CHANGING THE FACE OF
HOMELESSNESS IN LA. THANK YOU.
When you give by midnight PST on December 31, your gift will be DOUBLED to help TWICE as many people escape the devastation of homelessness. Please give today.
PLANNED GIVING
Don’t Let Your IRA Benefit Expire
If you are 701/2 or older and own an IRA, there is something you should know. Congress enacted a law that lets you do something special with your IRA to reduce taxes, but you must act before December 31 to benefit this year.
Rollover into Tax Savings
The IRA charitable rollover allows you to avoid taxes when you transfer funds from your IRA directly to a charity. You can transfer up to $100,000 this year to a qualified nonprofit. And your gift will count against your required distribution, reducing your income and taxes. Best of all, an IRA rollover gift is an easy way to help further our mission. Contact Union Rescue Mission or your IRA administrator to make a difference this year with your IRA.
For more information about how an IRA rollover can benefit you and the Mission, please contact:
Rosie Perez, rperez@urm.org
213-673-4593
Stories from Skid Row
We never turn away a woman who needs help. Meet Margaret and learn more at urm.org/stories.
Help transform more lives with your gift today. A Matching Challenge will make your gift go TWICE as far when you give by midnight PST on December 31.
HOW YOUR KINDNESS AND COMPASSION CAN DOUBLE TO SAVE MORE LIVES
DECEMBER 31 DEADLINE
Every day, three people devastated by homelessness die on our streets. But you can help. Some generous friends of Union Rescue Mission have offered to match every gift we receive by midnight PST on December 31, up to $500,000. This means any gift you send will be doubled— automatically—to provide twice as much help for men, women, and children fighting to escape from homelessness. Your gift will also qualify as a 2019 tax deduction if you itemize. Please help save more lives today.
Every $1 = $2 to Provide
Twice the Lifesaving Care
Help save lives by sending the most generous gift you can today. Thank you!
DO 2X AS MUCH GOOD!
You’ll provide twice as many nourishing meals.
Twice the lifesaving shelter.
And change twice as many lives!
Now is the best time to give while you can do twice as much good with every dollar you give! Will you give as generously as you can now?
A NEW YEAR OF HOPE—THANKS TO YOU
Last New Year’s Eve, I spent the night outside, along with 41,000 other men, women, and children devastated by homelessness in Los Angeles. I prayed that our city would come together and immediately respond to this tremendous epidemic.
Yet today, 11 months later, more than 44,000 precious human beings are now living—and dying—on streets throughout Los Angeles County. In fact, three people die every day on these streets. It’s heartbreaking, and tempting to think that my prayers and cries were not heard.
But that’s not true. I see God’s faithfulness, even now. Just a few weeks ago, Union Rescue Mission opened a new Sprung structure to provide shelter and other services for 120 more single women. We also expanded Hope Gardens to provide real hope for 15 additional single mothers and their children. And by the beginning of 2021, we expect to open a new satellite location in South Los Angeles for 86 more families.
So as we head into 2020, I am filled with hope, especially because of the extraordinary generosity of people like you. Your fearlessness and faithfulness in giving are empowering us to welcome all who come to our door. May God bless you in the year to come.
Blessings, Andy
You don’t want to miss Andy’s blog!
Check out revandysblog.com.