Jim Palmer

President and CEO of the Orange County Rescue Mission (OCRM) since 1992, the countys most comprehensive private homeless services provider, Jim Palmer has worked to create long-term self-sufficiency and stability among the Orange County and Southern California homeless by going beyond temporary solutions to address the underlying causes of transiti... onal and chronic homelessness. The Rescue Mission started with nine people and has grown into the largest non-profit, faith-based organization serving 28,929 people throughout Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties by providing more than 2 million units of service and more than 1.2 million meals in 2012. Under Mr. Palmers visionary leadership, OCRM has received national recognition for success rates of client graduates and entrepreneurial approaches to developing self-sufficiency, including the 211th Presidential Point of Light award, Governor Schwarzeneggers Service Award (2004), and recognition from President George W. Bush at the Faith-based Initiatives Conference in Washington, D.C. As president, Palmer established The Village of Hope on the former Tustin Marine Corps Air Base, developed the House of Hope, Hope Family Housing, HURTT Family Health Clinics, the Double R Ranch, Operation OC, Temecula Murrieta Rescue, and Corona Norco Rescue Missions. Palmer maximizes donor commitment by putting an average of 81 cents on every donated dollar directly toward those in need. On July 3rd, 2007 President George W. Bush nominated Mr. Palmer for the position of a Director on the Board for the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Sixty days later, the United States Senate unanimously confirmed Palmers nomination for his term ending 2012. CNCS is the largest grant maker in the field of civic and volunteer service. Mr. Palmer oversaw a staff of 125,000 and an annual operating budget of $1.2 Billion Dollars until his term ended in October of 2012. Mr. Palmer is the only person to have served on three levels of government simultaneously. He served as a ...Read More