Around 600 people today welcomed home ABC NewsAnchor and Reporter David Muir and helped raise funds for Salvation Armyprograms. Muir called it an honor to be asked to speak at the agency’s annual luncheon.
"The Salvation Army is sort of this hidden hand. Everyone talks about the economy coming back, her in CNY and a lot of other parts of this country it’s not. Now that I report at the network level, I parachute in on so many disasters, and it’s not lost on me that when the cameras leave, it’s the Salvation Army that’s there long after we’re gone."
Muir says he’s happy ABC has allowed him to report from around the world, as well as produce stories such as his“Made in America” series. The luncheon at the Oncenter is the Salvation Army’s largest fundraising event. Executive Director Linda Wright says it helps fund more than 40 programs…such as the little-known, housing for 17-to-24-year-olds with mental illness.
“… who have not developed well, because of that in their adult years,” adds Wright. “There’s a huge gap of getting the services you need as an adult to deal with your chronic issues in mental health. So we can help them sort of grow and grow up. It doesn’t get talked about a lot…but without that housing program, those young adults would become chronic homeless, no doubt in mind."
The agency also just received funding for more case workers to help children avoid gangs…and perhaps gain some job skills.
