Star Kobe Bryant shares his feelings about why he’s serving as the honorary chair of United Way’s HomeWalk, and why he’s so passionate about ending homelessness in Los Angeles County.
After completing her stint as anchor of Fox Eleven’s ten o’clock news the night before, Christine Devine woke up early on a Saturday morning to volunteer her time and talent to help end homelessness in Los Angeles. Not only did she serve as Mistress of Ceremonies of United Way’s HomeWalk, but she walked the 5K route as well. Check out what she had to say…
Tonight when you go to sleep, will it be somewhere safe and secure? If you answered “yes” ask yourself one question, “Where are approximately 144,000 homeless veterans in the U.S. going to sleep tonight?”
Now I assume you will ask yourself the question, “Why are our veterans homeless?”
I agree this seems to be a fair question with probably long and complicated answers. But will pursuing any answer make any difference tonight, or tomorrow night, to those homeless veterans who have served on behalf of us all?
So the question really we have to ask ourselves is, “What can — and should — we be doing now?”
Each year United Way of Greater Los Angeles highlights the plight of around 50,000 plus people who are homeless by hosting a 5k walk. ‘HomeWalk’ raises awareness, funds and commitment to end this increasing disaster.
Here at the Los Angeles Federation of Labor AFL-CIO and Labor Community Services AFL-CIO United Way, the impact of the current economy has been seen sharply in our membership’s struggles to stay afloat. And with so many of our members being veterans, ‘Team Homeless Heroes’ was born this year, saluting all veterans and making a clear statement: “Being homeless in the U.S. is unacceptable, but being a veteran and homeless in the U.S. is a crime!”
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor members donated $10,000 and more than 250 walkers from dozens of L.A. unions came out, so the message was loudly heard on the morning of November 19, 2011.
‘Homeless Heroes’ in its inaugural year was the second largest team at
Homewalk 2011, only just being beaten by Team Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant, as the honorary chair of the event, was game to try on his official LA Lakers fire helmet presented to him by Dave Gillotte, President of the L.A. County Fire Fighters Local 1014 and Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO.
And as they walked and ran, L.A Labor’s Team Homeless Heroes made sure that the plight of more than 9,000 homeless veterans in Los Angeles County was front and center. We insisted that the 31% of homeless veterans who are chronically homeless are not forgotten, and that the 51% increase in female veteran homelessness is shameful!
At the end of the walk there was a loud and clear message from our labor family, Homewalk 2011 was not a one-off event, and our veterans were not going to be made to wait until next year for us to remember them. This was just the beginning!
At the end of the day money was raised, awareness heightened and commitments honored.
As I and other Team Homeless Heroes members lay our head in safe and secure environments tonight, we know we are not waiting for the answer to the question “Why?” We are just doing what needs to be done today, and every day!
by Red Godfrey, Los Angeles Labor and Community Services Los Angeles AFL – CIO
On November 19, 2011, more than 10,000 Angelenos came together with Kobe Bryant, Chair of HomeWalk 2011, to end homelessness in our County.
On Saturday, November 19, United Way of Greater Los Angeles welcomed approximately 10,000 eager participants to Exposition Park for its fifth annual 5K Run/Walk to end homelessness.
With Kobe Bryant serving as Honorary Chair and Fox Eleven News’ Christine Devine hosting the opening ceremony, HomeWalk 2011 proved to be the organization’s most high-profile event to date.
Other notable guests included various elected officials, social media activist Mark Horvath, Zach Bonner of the Little Red Wagon Foundation and Ron Thomas, father of the late Kelly Thomas.
Sponsored by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Wells Fargo and many others, the massive fundraiser featured dozens of information booths on UWGLA’s community partners, popular food trucks such as Mandoline Grill and Maui Wowi, as well as an early morning address by Kobe Bryant himself.
Bryant underlined the importance of bringing homelessness to the forefront of public discussion while encouraging those in attendance to speak out on behalf of men, women and children in need.
“Unfortunately, over the years, homelessness has faded into the background…almost becoming a part of daily life,” he said. “But we’re here to shake things up, to remind everybody what a serious issue it is and how it can be eradicated. So let’s continue to spread the message, to come together and get this problem out of here!”
So far, HomeWalk 2011 has generated more than $400,000 – every penny of which goes towards the development and implementation of supportive housing solutions for local families, military veterans and the chronically homeless.
According to Elise Buik, President and CEO of United Way of Greater L.A., the sheer scale of this year’s event was not only reassuring – it represented a huge step in the right direction.
“To have thousands of people stand up and say, ‘We will end homelessness together,’ is inspiring and a true testament to what is possible in our community,” she said. “With the help of a champion like Kobe Bryant and all the walkers, runners and volunteers who participated, we’ll be able to house countless homeless individuals. And that’s what it really comes down to: getting people off the streets.”
Hello my name is Margie Espinoza,
My father in law served in the National Guard and did a tour in Korea. He later settled in the City of El Monte with his wife and had the calling to serve once more when he enlisted with the Air Force. His service with the Air Force took him overseas once again to Germany and although there were no wars he felt the need to serve our great country and protect the rights and freedom that so many of us take for granted.
I am inspired to participate and help recruit people for the Homeless Heroes because I am inspired by past employers and Unions who fought for the rights of our service men and women. My father in law worked for Alcoa Aluminum and belonged to UAW while deciding to serve our country once again had the peace of mind to know that his job would be safe and waiting for him upon his safe return.
I currently work for the El Monte City School District and have a Union brother who served in the Army reserve and was called into active duty for Homeland Security. His tour of duty lasted for one year and we had to fight to keep his job for him. There is no longer the security that our service men and women, when they return home, will find the jobs they left to fight for our rights and freedom.
It is shameful how we do not take care of our veterans and their families. I hope you will join me in supporting our troops, our veterans and make sure that they all have a place to come home to.
Margie Espinoza is a member of the CSEA El Monte LocallO
On November 19, United Way of Greater Los Angeles will be fighting to end homelessness with HomeWalk, an annual 5K Run/Walk to End Homelessness. HomeWalk is a family event with learning stations and opportunities to connect to local service organizations.
How to win a signed basketball from Kobe Bryant at BlogWorld:
At Blog World we are giving away a basketball autographed by LA Laker, Kobe Bryant. Here’s how you can qualify:
- Sign-up to participate in HomeWalk(contest code: BlogWorld)
- Not in LA? Register as a virtual walker. We’ll even send you a t-shirt! (contest code: BlogWorld)
- Sign-up to VOLUNTEER at HomeWalk! (contest code: BlogWorld)
- Donate to Invisible People TV www.invisiblepeople.tv
- Blog about homelessness and include United WayLA and/or Invisible People TV.
- Tweet about homelessness & include @LAUnitedWay & #homewalk
Come by booth #513 and show us your submission or use the code BlogWorld when registering as a walker/virtual walker/volunteer. It’s that simple!
More than anything, we want to connect! So ping us @LAUnitedWay and @HomeforGood, we’d love to meet you while you’re here!
