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L A Weight Loss Centers Donates $25,000 to Brotherhood Mission Ministries Aiding the Homeless Men of Philadelphia

Posted on: Wednesday, 28 December 2005, 18:00 CST

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- When L A Weight Loss Centers, Inc., one of the world's fastest-growing weight loss programs, heard the struggles of Brotherhood Mission Ministries to pay mounting bills or else be faced with the harsh reality of having heat, water and electricity shut off, they knew they had to step in and help. L A Weight Loss has made an unprecedented donation from the corporate community to Brotherhood Mission in the amount of $25,000 to help fill the most basic of needs for the men that turn to them for help.

Brotherhood Mission Ministries (BMM) has been a safe haven for homeless men for 97 years. Established as a men's shelter by Temple University's founder, Dr. Russell Conwell, it remains one of the oldest nonprofit organizations in Philadelphia. Brotherhood Mission Ministries provides emergency shelter services to men in need of safe shelter, food, clothes and a hot shower.

The L A Weight Loss donation was presented to Brotherhood Mission Ministries on Monday, December 19th as their Board Members sat down to their annual holiday meal with the homeless men the shelter aims to help. A fitting moment to make sure the Mission has the funds to keep helping the community.

"When we heard of the possibility that Brotherhood may have their water and heat shut off, we knew we had to do something," said Bill Gallagher, CFO of L A Weight Loss Centers, Inc. "We feel is it our duty to assist organizations who are in need and we hope with this gift, Brotherhood can continue to do the good works that people in the community rely upon."

Over the past year, Brotherhood Mission Ministries provided emergency and transitional housing to 75 to 100 men per night, prepared 82,125 meals, donated 205,266 pieces of clothing and gave away 118,805 pounds of food to North Philadelphia residents. As a result of the combined generosity from the philanthropic community Brotherhood Mission has never turned a single person away in 97 years. The gift from L A Weight Loss will help Brotherhood maintain this legacy.

Brotherhood Mission Ministries Executive Director Terrilynn Peele praised L A Weight Loss Centers, Inc. for its overwhelming generosity to their emergency appeal. "Brotherhood Mission was in imminent danger of closing after 97 years of serving Philadelphia's homeless community. Our water, gas, and electric bills were overdue and we were being threatened with immediate shut- off notices. But because local corporations like L A Weight Loss Centers, Inc. altruistically support the communities in which they business, that dire situation has been turned around. Healing homelessness requires enormous resources and L A Weight Loss Centers' $25,000 unmatched contribution will go a long way this winter in providing food, clothing and shelter to those men who call Brotherhood Mission Ministries -- HOME. Our entire organization is so very grateful to L A Weight Loss Centers and we cannot thank them enough for helping us when we were down."

Brotherhood Mission Ministries also focuses on the long-term needs of homeless men who are battling drug and alcohol addiction, mental illness, poor health, behavioral problems, poverty and limited education. Brotherhood Mission Ministries collaborates with many established non-profit organizations that provide its residents with literacy, education, career readiness training, vocational aptitude, computer classes and job searching skills that lead formerly homeless men towards employment and financial independence.

Brotherhood Mission Ministries is also committed to making sure that no man, woman, or child goes hungry in our community. The Mission runs a food pantry that is open to the public 15 to 20 days per month. Each day the pantry is open, approximately 50 community members come to Brotherhood Mission Ministries to obtain perishable food items the Mission cannot use before the expiration date. Last year, over 10,500 people throughout North Philadelphia benefited from the pantry. The Mission also operates a Community Soup Kitchen that offers three meals per day to shelter residents and community members, 365 days per year.

About L A Weight Loss Centers:

L A Weight Loss Centers, Inc. is one of the nation's fastest-growing weight loss companies with more than 400 centers nationwide. L A Weight Loss has helped more than a million women and men lose incredible amounts of weight for the past 15 years through customized meal plans, a balanced food program, coupled with one-on-one weight loss counseling.

L A Weight Loss Centers, Inc.

CONTACT: Dina Barsky of Star/Rosen Public Relations, +1-856-488-5500 x2132, for L A Weight Loss Centers, Inc.

Source: PRNewswire

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