Union Gospel Mission fundraising banquet brings in $120,418

Portland, OR- Union Gospel Mission's fall fundraising banquet raised a total of $120,418 in donations, pledges and matching funds from Ron Post's ministry, Mission Increase. Over 400 supporters of Union Gospel Mission attended the banquet at the Hilton hotel in downtown Portland on October 4. Charisse Strawberry, wife of former Yankee baseball player Darryl Strawberry was the keynote speaker, talked about her struggle as she stood by her husband through his addiction. The money raised will help fund a new building, called the "LifeChange Center" planned for the corner of NW Third and Burnside. The new five-story structure will expand the Union Gospel Mission's LifeChange recovery program from housing 30 to 70 men and women, as well as expanding Union Gospel Mission's homeless meal services.

Thus far, Union Gospel Mission has raised $2,745,909 for the new building. $2,632,632 still needs to be raised to finance the completion of the building. The cost of the project is $5,378,541. The new building represents the largest expansion in Union Gospel Mission's 76-year history.

About Union Gospel Mission: Union Gospel Mission has been "feeding the hungry and restoring the addict" since 1927. Union Gospel Mission provides meals for the homeless and needy and runs LifeChange, a long-term addiction recovery community. In LifeChange, residents live and work at Union Gospel Mission for two to four years and learn to overcome addiction and build new lives. For more information about Union Gospel Mission and LifeChange contact 503-274-4483, or visit online at www.ugmportland.com.