We thank you so much for coming to our 17th Annual Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, November 4, 2023. Your presence was such
a blessing to us. We pray you were blessed and inspired by our dynamic keynote speaker, Andy Bales.
If you missed our 17th Annual Prayer Breakfast, please click the link below to enjoy the inspirational message from our Keynote
Speaker, Andy Bales-President and CEO of the Union Rescue Mission on Skid Row in Downtown, Los Angeles.
Andy Bales Video
https://youtu.be/BYSy-rJr3XM?feature=shared
17th Annual Prayer Breakfast-Full Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNJvaKpJAiY
We pray that you will have a very blessed holiday season, and we hope to see you again next year!
From the Board and Staff at Christian Legal Aid of Los Angeles
2023 Keynote Speaker: Andy Bales- President and CEO of the Union Rescue Mission on
Skid Row in Downtown, Los Angeles.
Andy Bales has been raising money to assist his friends devastated by homelessness for the last 38 years.
Andy was born to Carl and Joanie Bales in 1958. Both parents grew up and met in Des Moines’ southeast bottoms, still known as the "poor side of town" and the “wrong side of the tracks.” Though Carl had experienced homelessness throughout his childhood, from ages 4-17, Carl (deceased) and Joanie (present today), dedicated their own lives to God, and while Andy was in his mom’s womb, they also dedicated
Andy’s life to God.
Since the week in the Winter of 1985, when Andy preached a message about the importance of feeding hungry people and never turning your back on a hurting person among us to students in his classroom six times on a Friday, only to not practice what he preached, when a hungry man asked him for his sandwich while Andy worked a second job on the weekend. Since then, Andy has been haunted by the thought of leaving one precious human being on the streets. He used to look through people digging out of dumpsters or living in the streets, but immediately, that “haunting” turned into action. Andy has led four Non-Profits addressing homelessness in Des Moines, Iowa, Pasadena, and now at Union Rescue Mission of Los Angeles, and has helped raise an estimated $400 million over the years.
Under Andy’s leadership, Union Rescue Mission secured the largest ever in URM history pledge of $30 million and the recent largest ever local Foundation Grant of $7.5 million. During Andy’s time, URM has completed a Capital Campaign to open the magnificent Hope Gardens Family Center for moms, children, and senior leaders and is nearing completion of a $50 million Capital Campaign to open a URM satellite for 86 families devastated by homelessness in South Los Angeles County.
Andy and his wife Bonnie have six children, eight grandchildren and have helped parent 25 foster children through the years. Thousands of other parents and other “children," along with their children and grandchildren, give thanks to Andy and his wife Bonnie for working so passionately to better their lives and the lives of others.
2023 Prayer Breakfast Sponsors
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