| PRESS RELEASE | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Joshua Kinney Director of Marketing & Communications Phone: 484-557-1601 jkinney@missiondc.org |
| Graduates will share powerful testimonies of redemption as they complete Central Union Mission’s year-long Restoration & Transformation Program |
| WHAT: Central Union Mission will celebrate the graduation of participants from its Restoration & Transformation Program, a year-long, Christ-centered residential program that equips men experiencing homelessness and life-controlling challenges with the tools to rebuild their lives. The graduation ceremony honors men who have demonstrated perseverance, personal growth, and commitment throughout the program. Graduates will share firsthand testimonies of the transformation they have experienced, offering a powerful glimpse into lives restored through faith, accountability, education, life skills, and community support. WHEN: Saturday, July 18, 2026 Media Arrival: 1:30 p.m. Program Begins: 2:00 p.m. Best coverage opportunities: 2:15–3:15 p.m. WHERE: Central Union Mission Men’s Shelter 65 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, DC 20001 WHO: Program graduates and their families Joe Mettimano, President & CEO, Central Union Mission Jimmy Kemp, President of the Jack Kemp Foundation and Partner at TDI International (Guest Speaker) Central Union Mission staff, volunteers, donors and supporters WHY: Every graduation represents a life transformed. While homelessness often dominates headlines, stories of lasting restoration are rarely told. Central Union Mission’s Restoration & Transformation Program addresses the root causes of homelessness through long-term discipleship, education, employment readiness, life skills, counseling, and spiritual formation, helping men move beyond crisis toward lasting independence. This ceremony celebrates not simply the completion of a program, but the beginning of new lives. EVENT HIGHLIGHTS / MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES: Emotional graduation ceremony honoring program participants Powerful personal testimonies from graduates Inspirational keynote address by Jimmy Kemp Presentation of graduation certificates Family reunions and celebration moments Interviews with graduates, Mission leadership, and Jimmy Kemp B-roll opportunities throughout the ceremony ABOUT CENTRAL UNION MISSION: Founded in 1884, Central Union Mission is the oldest private social service agency in the District of Columbia. In addition to its emergency shelter, which provides over 62,000 bed-nights each year, the Mission operates five facilities located in DC, Maryland, and Virginia aimed at transforming the lives of people experiencing poverty and homelessness through a comprehensive array of co-located, wraparound services and programs. To learn more, visit missiondc.org.  |