SANTA ANA : Bush Names Mission ‘Point of Light’

Workers at the Orange County Rescue Mission deal with problems daily, but today they have a cause for celebration: President Bush has named the mission the 211th Daily Point of Light.

White House officials notified James Palmer, the agency’s executive project director, of the award Wednesday, and he spent the rest of the day calling people to tell them the good news.

Being named one of Bush’s ‘1,000 Points of Light’ is “the ultimate award that a nonprofit can receive,” Palmer said.

The Orange County Rescue Mission, founded in 1963 by the late Rev. Lewis Whitehead, has received recognition at the city and state level, but never at the national level, Palmer said.

The mission has helped more than 500,000 homeless people in Orange County. The agency has distributed 85,885 meals, 219,310 items of clothing and provided shelter to thousands. More than 1,000 volunteers help with rescue mission programs, which are supported by gifts from 25,000 donors, including corporations, individuals, foundations and churches, Palmer said.

“That was one of the items that the White House was interested in, that it was 100% privately funded,” Palmer said.

The Points of Light program, begun last November, gives awards six days a week to individuals, families, businesses, groups and organizations that help combat social problems.