Part of Realty Commissions Donated : Rescue Mission Gets $26,000

Christmas came early at the Orange County Rescue Mission when a $26,000 check was presented to the mission to help continue its service to the poor.

The donation was made by Rob Horvath, a member of the mission’s board of directors and owner of Pacific Rim Investment Properties of Irvine, a commercial real estate investment firm, and two business associates, Sheriff S. Michael of Camtex Investment Corp. in Santa Ana and Winfried Von Merkatz of Dolfann Enterprises in Laguna Hills.

“It’s our opinion that people in the real estate industry are benefiting from this strong real estate market in Orange County, but there are a lot of people falling through the safety net,” Horvath said.

Helping to provide for those people “is our responsibility as caring Christians and caring individuals,” he said.

Horvath said because government money for programs such as the Rescue Mission has dwindled, it is incumbent upon the private sector to step in. Horvath and the two other real estate brokers agreed among themselves to donate a part of their commissions on a large property sale to aid the mission.

“Since I have been involved in the mission, this is probably the largest check I have received,” said John Lands, executive director of the mission at 1901 W. Walnut St. in Santa Ana. Lands became involved with the organization in 1981.

The mission’s annual budget is about $475,000, all of which comes from individuals, churches or corporate donors, Lands said. The mission serves three meals a day to anybody who wants to eat there and each night can accommodate about 75 people in need of shelter.

“We will probably feed 3,200 people and give away 3,200 presents to people and children on Christmas Day,” Landis said. The mission will also give away 350 Christmas food boxes, including turkeys, to needy families, he said.