Homeless Program Honored as One of the Best in America

A program that began just eight years ago inside a donated bus is now being recognized nationally as one of the best run, hardest working charities in America. Mission Solano, a Fairfield-based nomadic homeless sheltering program, has been chosen as a 2006 Samaritan Award honoree by the Acton Institute, a think-tank organization based in Michigan.

(PRWEB) September 4, 2006 - A program that began just eight years ago inside a donated bus is now being recognized nationally as one of the best run, hardest working charities in America. Mission Solano, a Fairfield-based nomadic homeless sheltering program, has been chosen as a 2006 Samaritan Award honoree by the Acton Institute, a think-tank organization based in Michigan.

"We offer a program that has proven to be effective at changing the lives of homeless men, women and children, and we're very happy to have that work recognized by a group like the Acton Institute," says Mission Solano's Executive Director Ron Marlette. "Our success lies in our partnership with community churches, city government and private businesses and the great generosity of our many donors," he adds.

Mission Solano is one of only two West Coast charities chosen as finalists in the national competition. Two hundred forty-seven (247) agencies applied for the honor. As a finalist, Mission Solano will be featured in a major article in the September 3rd edition of World Magazine, a weekly publication dedicated to faith-based news. The article, which is already posted at www.worldmag.com, chronicles the organization from its very humble beginnings to its present day plans to build a $9 million dollar, 30,300-square- feet homeless services complex, the Bridge to Life Center.

Once built, the center will provide a holistic, long-term residence program for up to 163 homeless individuals, including men, women and families. It will be the largest such complex in Northern California and is already being called "the rescue mission of the future."

The article also looks inside the life of founder Marlette, an ex-con, and tells the story of how a Billy Graham crusade changed his life and led, ultimately, to his own crusade against homelessness in his hometown.

The Acton Institute chooses its Samaritan Award recipients and finalists based on a review of a given charity's financial protocols, its effectiveness and its use of faith to accomplish its goals.

About Mission Solano
Mission Solano was established in 1998 by Founder and Executive Director Ron Marlette. The program provides emergency shelter, food and clothing, counseling
education and job-skills training to homeless men, women and children throughout Solano County (a county of approximately 400,000 people). Mission Solano is open 24 hours, seven days a week and provides all services free of charge to its guests. The program is funded through individual and corporate donations and unique entrepreneurial enterprises. It owns and operates two thrift stores, a used car dealership, a coffee production business and a coupon advertising franchise.

Our Vision
To provide an economic and spiritual bridge for people striving to regain the basic necessities of life in order to restore hope in themselves and their future while achieving economic stability so that they are able to rejoin their community as full and active participants.

Mission SOLANO
740 Travis Boulevard
P.O. Box 8
Fairfield, CA 94533

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   CONTACT:
August 30, 2006            
Ron Marlette, Executive Director
707-249-1611

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