Kathie Lee Gifford Honorary Chair of 2005 Great Thanksgiving Banquet

Kathie Lee Gifford and the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM) today announced that Kathie Lee will host the 7th Annual Great Thanksgiving Banquet kick-off event in New York City November 21.

"My heart goes out to those who are struggling to live in this country without a permanent home. The work that Rescue Missions do every day to help these unfortunate souls is extraordinary. I am so pleased to be able to do something as simple as serve a Thanksgiving meal to the homeless here in New York -- it may be the opportunity for someone to discover the assistance available, and move into a new life."

The Great Thanksgiving Banquet is an annual event where Rescue Missions all over America band together to serve traditional holiday fare to more than half a million homeless men, women and children during the holiday season. The New York City Rescue Mission is the location of the kick-off event on November 21st. Similar special meals will be held in more than 300 Rescue Missions across the country.

"Kathie Lee Gifford is known as a compassionate American," said Reverend Stephen E. Burger, Executive Director of the AGRM. "She will help us bring attention to the work Rescue Missions are doing 365 days a year."

Several hundred homeless men, women and children will be served traditional Thanksgiving meals at the New York City Rescue Mission. The Mission was founded in 1872 and is the oldest in the country. For guests of the Mission, it will be an opportunity to eat a delicious meal in a loving family atmosphere -- often a Mission meal is the first step to recovery for a person on the street.

"Rescue Missions all over the country have been assisting the most visible homeless population -- the victims of Katrina and Rita. But every day Rescue Missions serve meals, offer clothing and emergency shelter, and provide rehabilitation programs for those suffering from substance abuse problems," Burger added. "USA Today recently reported that more than 700 thousand people are homeless in the US, and 42% of that number are families. Rescue Missions are a big part of the solution to the problem of homelessness in the US."

Founded in 1913, the Kansas City-based Association of Gospel Rescue Missions represents 300 Rescue Missions which provide emergency food and shelter, youth and family services, rehabilitation programs for the addicted, and assistance to the elderly, poor and at-risk youth. Last year, AGRM missions served more than 36 million meals, provided 13 million nights of lodging, distributed more than 20 million pieces of clothing and graduated 14,500 homeless men and women into productive living.

Source: Association of Gospel Rescue Missions
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 18, 2005 /PRNewswire/ --