Derrick Hall hits Homerun for the Homeless at Annual Fundraiser

Lodestar Day Resource Center holds Annual Breakfast and Fundraiser; Raises Nearly $100,000

(Phoenix, AZ) – The Lodestar Day Resource Center (LDRC), a non-profit organization that connects homeless people to housing, shelter and jobs, held their annual breakfast on Friday, December 11, to raise money for services they offer at the Human Services Campus at 12^th Avenue and Jackson in downtown Phoenix.

The morning included an introduction of the organization, which is a collaborative effort between over 12 agencies that service people currently experiencing homelessness.  “Homeless individuals who come to us do not simply wake up homeless one morning, but rather there is long succession of misfortune or challenges, and they come to us when they are at a low point in their lives,” explained Jessica Berg, Executive Director of the Lodestar Day Resource Center. “We show respect for each and every person that comes through our door and offer them a chance to make a better life for themselves, make long-term changes that will get them back on their feet, find employment, and a place to live in order to rehabilitate themselves and the community as a whole.”

In attendance among the 100 guests were Ted Purdy, currently on the PGA Tour, and Derrick Hall, President and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Hall was a guest speaker for the event and urged the crowd to give.  He referenced his early baseball career with the Los Angeles Dodgers’, “I was asked by our owner why I was not contributing to the workplace campaign early in my career. I told him, ‘With all due respect, I don’t make that much.’ Without missing a beat, he replied, ‘Then don’t give that much.’ I have never forgotten those words. Those of us who have, should give. We can all make an impact and should.“

Hall also talked about the issue of homelessness, “I am shocked with the increase in homelessness, especially with school children. If these kids can’t learn and they drop out of school because they don’t have the resources they need, it starts a vicious cycle of poverty.”  Hall then lightened the room when he mentioned that you can learn more from failures than from success. “Our team has not experienced much success on the field the last year and a half, but we have a plan and will continue to strive for excellence. Success is often measured by how you overcome your failures.” Hall mentioned his admiration for the formerly homeless clients who spoke that day, those who have created hope and success out of their challenges.

Steve Davis, President of the Board for the LDRC, also reminded guests that sometimes poverty comes in different forms, such as poverty of character which can lead to greed and disconnection from the community.  After the presentations he closed with a poem and presented the MVP award to Mike McQuaid – his very own custom bobble head, which looked just like him. McQuaid, a long-time supporter and founder of the 12 acre campus that serves over 1,000 people each day, made the closing remarks.

The event was sponsored by Arizona Housing Inc. and raised nearly $100,000. With the AHI sponsorship, all of the funds raised could go directly to service the clients at the LDRC. Many of the guests learned about the LDRC for the first time.

Since opening in 2004, the LDRC has served thousands of homeless individuals with a variety of needs: physical disabilities, medical conditions, mental health or substance abuse issues, corrections backgrounds, and more. Serving over 300 homeless individuals each day and utilizing a client-centered coordinated team approach with services centralized in one setting, the LDRC and its agencies have had a significant impact on the chronic homelessness. Many people have gained access to AHCCCS or veterans benefits, have enrolled in behavioral health/substance abuse treatment programs, and have acquired temporary or permanent jobs. And most significantly in our efforts to end homelessness, hundreds of clients have acquired housing. From the opening of the pilot program in April 2004 through October 2009, 1036 clients have obtained permanent housing. Through a collaborative effort, the Human Services Campus and the LDRC is able to bring together St. Vincent de Paul, Central Arizona Shelter Services, CASS Employment, Community Bridges, Department of Economic Security, Ecumenical Chaplaincy for the Homeless, Maricopa County Health Care for the Homeless, Magellan, Maricopa County Probation, NOVA Safe Haven, Southwest Behavioral Health Services, St. Joseph the Worker, and Veterans Affairs all on one campus to make it as easy as possible to get out from the grasp of homelessness.

Published on behalf of the Lodestar Day Resource Center
In November 2005, the Lodestar Day Resource Center (LDRC) opened on the Human Services Campus in downtown Phoenix. The Campus uses the power of collaboration to provide solutions to homelessness. Referred to as the “hub” of the Campus, the LDRC welcomes clients, and serves as a gateway for individuals to access an extensive array of human services needed to begin the transformation from crisis to stability and self sufficiency.

Through the collaborative approach of the LDRC, clients have access to public restrooms and hydration, a post office, phones, housing assistance, employment services, government benefit eligibility, substance use counseling and 12-step groups, mental health services, identification, GED and computer tutoring, art, yoga, theater, poetry, and other holistic programming. Made up of over ten different agencies, the LDRC serves approximately 300 individuals each day. Public and private partnerships have been and will continue to be the backbone of this project.

The Lodestar Day Resource Center is a primary partner with Valley of the Sun United Way. For more information: www.lodestardrc.org.

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