ADVISORY/James Hahn to Address Homeless Men Who Have Overcome Tough Times and Have Graduated From Recovery Program at Union Rescue Mission.

News Editors/City Desks

ADVISORY...for Sunday (March 5)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHAT:             Los Angeles City Attorney James Hahn will be the
                  keynote speaker at Union Rescue Mission's first
                  graduation ceremony of the millennium, complete with
                  caps and gowns, for 31 homeless men who have
                  successfully completed a yearlong recovery program.
                  Many of the graduates have overcome drug and alcohol
                  addiction, illiteracy, and abuse issues and will be
                  reentering mainstream society. The Mission's
                  residential recovery program includes counseling,
                  basic education, computer instruction, physical
                  fitness, and job training.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

         Roque Zaratd, Jr., program graduate, 36, lost his job and his
         self-esteem when the bottle began to run his life. He came
         close to losing his wife and two children, Thailya, age 13,
         and Santiago, age 8, when he wound up in jail for accumulated
         DUIs. After a month and a half in prison, Roque enrolled in
         the Union Rescue Mission's residential recovery program with
         the hope that he might start his life over again. This time,
         it would be without the bottle. But sobriety isn't his only
         success in the last 11 months. Roque, who was once &uot;afraid of
         computers,&uot; can now navigate his way on the computer: he has
         learned how to use programs like Excel and how to do a

         job-search on the Internet. Today, not only is he reconciled
         with his wife and children, he is ready to return to the
         working world with two job offers in hand and hopes to
         continue his education in computers. Most of all, he has
         learned the importance of his role as a father to his
         children, including two from a previous marriage. &uot;I know the
         impact I have on my children,&uot; he says. &uot;I teach my
         eight-year-old son that it's okay to hug and that it's okay
         to express your emotions. I never learned that from my
         father.&uot; Roque graduates with 30 other men on March 5th,
         2000. His parents, wife, and two children will be attending.
         Other graduates are also available for interviews.

         Michael Teague, president and CEO of URM, who can discuss the
         growing challenges of homelessness in Los Angeles and in the
         United States.

         Ken McGill, superintendent of men's ministries, URM, who can
         talk about the goals and vision of the men's residential
         recovery program and how the lives of countless broken men
         are currently being rebuilt.

WHEN:    Sunday, March 5, 2000
         3-5 p.m.

WHERE:   Union Rescue Mission Chapel, 545 S. San Pedro St.,
         Los Angeles
         (Secured underground parking is available.)

WHO:     Union Rescue Mission, the nation's largest and Los
         Angeles' oldest mission, has helped homeless people
         overcome the cycle of poverty for over 100 years. In
         addition to emergency food and shelter, the Mission
         has developed life-changing residential programs for
         men, women, and children. In 1999, 124 men and women
         graduated from Union Rescue Mission's program. For
         more information, call the contacts listed above or
         see URM's website at www.urm.com.