Five-time Grammy award winning Christopher Cross to HEADLINE BENEFIT CONCERT TO SOLVE FAMILY HOMELESSNESS

Christopher Cross to perform at the Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista, CA

VISTA, CA – August 4, 2010 – North County Solutions for Change is bringing the legendary sound of Christopher Cross to Vista’s beautifully renovated Moonlight Amphitheatre on October 16, 2010. The five-time Grammy and Oscar award winning recording artist will headline the Benefit Rock Concert. Cross will bring his top hits to help give a voice to hundreds of North County homeless children who are being helped through North County’s Finding Our Way Home initiative, a vision which has moved thousands of people around the Solutions University’s regional public/private sector plan to solve family homelessness.

Cross’ hits include “Sailing”, “Ride Like the Wind”, “Never Be the Same Again”, “Say You’ll Be Mine”, and “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do).” With the Moonlight’s recent 13 million dollar renovation, Cross is thought to be the biggest talent to ever perform in the Vista community. The concert will also feature local celebrity Carol LeBeau, as emcee.

President and Executive Director of North County Solutions for Change Chris Megison said, “We are thrilled that an artist of Mr. Cross’ caliber is coming to Vista to play for our benefit concert.” Megison continued, “So many incredible people are already engaged in helping us do the critical work which must be done to solve something as tough as family homelessness. We are excited to add Mr. Cross’ name alongside those in our community who refuse to allow the impacts of homelessness to claim our neighbor’s kids. Together, we are taking a stand and making a statement through Christopher’s’ timeless voice: when it comes to the impacts of homelessness on our children, we are locking arms and pushing back.”

In April of this year, North County Solutions for Change launched its largest initiative ever. Called “Finding Our Way Home”, the $20,000,000 North Countywide campaign will develop and provide affordable homes which, along with the educational, employment, family health and spiritual support offered within its nationally acclaimed Solutions University, will rebuild futures for 200 families and 400 children in 1000 days.

The purpose of Finding Our Way Home is to equip parents with the skills, knowledge and resources needed to solve homelessness, permanently. To achieve this mammoth goal, North County Solutions for Change has forged community partnerships across a wide spectrum of public and private sector entities engaging fourteen leaders to serve on a regional leadership team. Those assembled include three CEO’s of global (1B+) corporations, several local faith leaders and four elected public officials. Mark King, CEO of the Taylor Made Company leads the initiative as its chairman. In addition to Taylor Made, private sector community partners include Bumble Bee Foods, DJO Inc, Genentech, Watkins Manufacturing, Directed Electronics, Emmanuel Faith Church, Calvary Chapel of Oceanside, New Life Presbyterian Church, St Thomas More Catholic Church and Vista HOPE Church. Local public sector partners include the County of San Diego and the cities of Carlsbad, Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos and Vista.

According to the National Center of Family Homelessness, one in 50 children in America experience homelessness annually – more than 1.5 million children. Their estimated high school graduation rate is less than 25%. For those who do graduate, few are proficient in reading and math. 292,624 California children experience homelessness each year.

Tickets for the benefit concert go on sale to the general public on August 16^th through vistixonline.com.

About North County Solutions for Change

North County Solutions for Change (Solutions for Change) is a social purpose enterprise founded in 1999 and organized as a public benefit charity (nonprofit) corporation under IRS code 501 (c)3 for the sole purpose of solving family homelessness. The organization is run by social entrepreneurs who developed a model called the Solutions University, which engages families and the entire community around a permanent solution to homelessness. Abandoning the traditional shelter and human service approach, the Solutions University equips families and communities with the skills, knowledge and resources needed to address and solve the root problems associated with family homelessness. In its first decade of service, Solutions for Change and its community partners have helped over 550 once homeless families move into good homes, get adequate jobs and acquire the resources needed to maintain a stable and healthy home. Solution for Change engages all sectors of the community; churches, civic groups, businesses, schools and government, while working together using the Solutions University as common ground. As a result, the lives of more than 1,200 children have been rebuilt, saving the public an estimated $28,000,000. Solutions for Change owns and operates the Solutions University, which provides 60 families a day with affordable homes and a holistic array of education, employment, spiritual and health related solutions all within one cohesive strategic partnership aimed at the one goal: solving family homelessness, permanently.

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