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Lakers Star Kobe Bryant Joins Over 5,000 People to Fight Homelessness in L.A. County in 5th Annual United Way HomeWalk -- November 19

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

                  Part of United Way's campaign to end poverty in L.A.
                  County, HomeWalk is a 5K run/walk to raise public
                  awareness and fund solutions to end homelessness, an
                  extreme form of poverty. Over the last four years, 18,000
                  people have walked, raising $1.7M and helping over 9,000
    WHAT:         people off the streets.

                  This year, Kobe Bryant is Honorary Chair for HomeWalk,
                  which will kick off at Exposition Park in front of the
                  Los Angeles Coliseum.

    WHY/STATS:   L.A. County remains the Homeless Capital of the nation.
                  --On any given night, over 51,000 people are homeless in
                  L.A. County; over 9,000 are veterans
                  --62% of the homeless population are unsheltered, living
                  on the streets or in cars
                  --Number one cause of homelessness is loss of a job; Over
                  93,000 families in L.A. County earn less than $10,000
                  each year
                  --40% of the homeless population are women and children;
                  24% of the homeless population is chronically homeless
                  --Over 1.5 million L.A. County residents (16%) live below
                  the poverty line ($22,000/year for a family of four) and
                  one in five children live under the poverty level

                  Over 5,000 L.A. residents running and walking to help end
                  homelessness, including the following expected
    WHO:          celebrities and officials:
                 -- L.A. Laker Kobe Bryant (2011 Honorary Chair)
                  --Dancing With The Stars Contestant and U.S. Veteran J.R.
                  Martinez
                  --Ron Thomas (father of Kelly Thomas, the homeless man
                  who was beaten to death in July, 2011)
                 -- United Way of Greater Los Angeles CEO Elise Buik
                  --L.A. County Supervisors Mark Ridley Thomas and Zev
                  Yaroslavsky
                 -- L.A. City Controller Wendy Greuel

    WHEN:        Saturday, November 19, 2011
                  --8:15 a.m. Press opportunity to speak with Kobe Bryant
                  about his efforts to end homelessness in L.A. County
                  --8:30 a.m. Opening Ceremonies, including remarks from
                  Kobe Bryant and Elise Buik; music by New Directions Choir
                  and El Sereno Middle School Marching Band
                  --9:00 a.m. Run/walk begins; educational journey along
                  route
                 -- 10:15 a.m. Runners and walkers finish

    WHERE:       Exposition Park
                 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles

    BCAST VISUALS:   -- Opening remarks and ceremonies
    --------------
                      --Educational journey along the walk with exhibits
                      along the route that illustrate life of homeless and
                      the path to permanent housing
                      --Interviews with Kobe Bryant, Elise Buik, local and
                      state officials (see above list) as well as
                      individuals and families that have been housed as a
                      result of HomeWalk and United Way efforts
                      ----------------------------------------------------

http://www.homewalkla.org

SOURCE United Way of Greater Los Angeles