Thanks in part to a full course of tee and corporate sponsorships, New Directions' 9th Annual Veterans Day Celebrity Golf Classic was a tremendous success, raising an unprecedented  $135,000 for the organization. New Directions would like to extend heart-felt gratitude and appreciation to the celebrities who turned out to play golf and support New Directions. Thank you to NDI spokesman Joe Mantegna (Joan of Acadia), Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda), James Sikking, Richard Karn, Ron Perlman, Willie Gault, Peter Falk, Ed Marinaro, Gordon Clapp, George Wendt, Jack Carter, Bobby Castenza, Bill Smitervich, John Capodich and Joel Murray.

As well, the New Directions Board of Directors and staff extend a HUGE thank you to all our sponsors. They include First Federal Bank of California, First Class Interiors, Union Bank of California, Exclusive Jaguar Services, Hidden Villa Ranch, Beacon Pictures, City of Corona, Concord Records, Lexus Santa Monica, Lu Boice PhD, Scott Sale M.D., Metropolitan West Asset Management and Grey Goose Vodka.

Ms. Reinis Goes to Washington

New Directions Executive Director Toni Reinis was invited by the White House to attend and participate in the Cabinet-level meeting of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness in Washington DC. It was the 6th meeting since the Council's revitalization in 2002. With the announcement of over $160 million in new federal resources as well as additional technical assistance to support and improve outcomes from programs already in place, agencies, including New Directions, are collaborating at an unprecedented level to focus resources on preventing and ending chronic homelessness.