Back on My Feet Becomes Bi-Coastal

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Jan 25, 2013, 12:05 ET

Nonprofit that uses running to help the homeless announces 11th location in Los Angeles

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Back on My Feet (BoMF), the national nonprofit organization that uses running as a vehicle to change the way the homeless see themselves so they can change the direction of their lives, is thrilled to announce it will launch in Los Angeles this fall, making the city its 11^th chapter in the US.

"We've received hundreds of requests to bring Back on My Feet to Los Angeles over the past few years," said Anne Mahlum, BoMF Founder and CEO. "We're thrilled to have the infrastructure and support network in place to bring our mission to the West Coast."

Back on My Feet's program increases the resources and opportunities needed for people experiencing homelessness to become self-sufficient. BoMF partners with shelters and facilities and then forms teams with residents living there. BoMF Members run three days a week at 5:30 a.m. and their attendance and mileage are tracked. Members earn access to training, receive one-to-one time with BoMF staff and, over the period of four to eight months, can apply for $2,500 to move their lives forward. The organization works with the private sector to train and employ their Members through partnerships with companies that include Accenture, ACE Cash Express, AT&T, Bimbo Bakeries USA, Marriott International and White Lodging.

"Our organization doesn't work without our corporate partners," Mahlum said. "They financially support us, get their employees engaged, and many help to advance our program by training or hiring our Members."

One of the biggest partners of Back on My Feet Los Angeles is ACE Cash Express. ACE supports BoMF in a variety of ways including volunteer opportunities for employees to teach financial literacy to the BoMF Members in Dallas-Ft. Worth.

"ACE's financial literacy curriculum has proven to be beneficial to the homeless population in Dallas," said Jay Shipowitz, ACE CEO. "These practical lessons on banking, credit and budgeting fundamentals are key to helping them reach their goals of financial stability and independence. We are excited to share our curriculum and time to help those experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles."

From September 2008 through 2012, the organization has helped more than 700 people find employment through their program and has a 46 percent success rate of moving people forward with a job, housing or both. The organization has 46 full-time staff with operations in 10 cities across the country: Philadelphia (headquarters), Baltimore, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Indianapolis, Atlanta, New York and Austin and is entirely privately funded with a national budget of $6.5M for 2013.

If you personally, or your company, is interested in learning about how you can get involved with Back on My Feet LA, please visit backonmyfeet.org/news/LA.

About Back on My Feet
Back on My Feet (BoMF), launched in Philadelphia in 2007, is a national nonprofit organization that uses running to help those experiencing homelessness change the way they see themselves so they can make real change in their lives that results in employment and independent living. The organization creates a community built on the very profound and innate desire for all of us to feel recognized, appreciated and supported. Back on My Feet does not provide food nor shelter, but instead provides coaching, resources, financial aid, job training and access to employment opportunities. The organization has chapters in Philadelphia (headquarters), Baltimore, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Indianapolis, Atlanta, New York and Austin. More information can be found at backonmyfeet.org.