RLHC Boosts Homeless Fundraising Campaign for Giving Tuesday

SPOKANE, Wash., Nov. 30, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RLHC (Red Lion Hotels Corporation) RLH announced today it has launched its innovative social responsibility initiative, Project Wake Up Call, in two more markets in time for Giving Tuesday (#GivingTuesday), an international day dedicated to supporting worthy causes.  Raising awareness about homelessness in urban areas, Project Wake Up Call is a fundraising campaign which uses raw, thought-provoking photographic artwork online to expose the hardships associated with living on the streets. RLHC has joined forces with non-profit organizations serving people experiencing homelessness in Washington, D.C., and Spokane, Washington, in addition to its previously announced alliance in Baltimore, Maryland.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4017db08-5a2f-484a-b300-f33d93a4fa8a

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ab37f2cb-f4b2-48a5-bb34-8640d40717c1

"Homelessness is a growing concern in every major city," said RLHC President & CEO Greg Mount. "We believe every person deserves a roof over their head and are engaging to assist with non-profit organizations dedicated to that end. In addition to creating the website, we are providing incentive to donate."

Project Wake Up Call, www.projectwakeupcall.com, is a fundraising website designed to generate a positive impact on the cities in which Hotel RL locations are opening.  The project is sponsored by Hotel RL, a new upscale brand unveiled in October 2014. With a donation on the website of $100 or more, a trial offer will be issued to stay one night stay at the Hotel RL Baltimore Inner Harbor, Hotel RL Washington DC, or Hotel RL Spokane at the Park.  All donations go directly to the non-profit organizations supported.

For the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore launches, Hotel RL teamed up with photographer Ian Tong to support Unity Health Care in Washington, D.C., and Health Care for the Homeless in Baltimore. Tong traversed both cities striking up conversations with individuals experiencing homelessness and documenting their living situation with his camera. The result is a series of evocative photographs that presents a look at the most visible signs of homelessness.

In Spokane, Washington, the team at the future Hotel RL Spokane at the Park worked with photographer Dean Davis to provide assistance to Blessings Under the Bridge.  Davis had been photographing homelessness near his downtown studio for more than a year before he was approached to capture the living situations in Spokane.

Photos:

Photos from Project Wake Up Call: Baltimore Uncovered
Photos from Project Wake Up Call: DC Uncovered
Photos from Project Wake Up Call: Spokane Uncovered

About Unity Health Care in Washington, D.C.:

Founded in the District 30 years ago as Health Care for the Homeless, Unity Health Care, Inc. provides primary, dental, and specialty health services to all District residents, including homeless individuals and families. Their mission is to promote healthier communities through compassion and comprehensive health and human services, regardless of the patient's ability to pay. Currently, Unity is one of the largest primary care nonprofit organizations in the District of Columbia, serving more than 108,000 District residents annually through a network of twenty-nine health care sites and a staff of more than 900 compassionate and caring professionals. www.unityhealthcare.org

About Blessings Under the Bridge in Spokane, WA:

From the beginning, Blessings Under the Bridge has offered unconditional love to the homeless in Spokane, Washington, by restoring hope, purpose and dignity to the hearts and lives of those lost on the streets. An upscale server for the homeless, founder Jessica Kovac and her husband, Mike, have served over 100,000 meals under an I-90 overpass in Spokane since 2007. With help from community donors, they also give away bags of groceries, haircuts, clothing and blankets, along with hot coffee and sacks filled with gourmet treats. butb.org

About Health Care for the Homeless in Baltimore, MD:

Health Care for the Homeless works to end homelessness in Maryland and beyond. In partnership with caregivers, advocates, donors and people experiencing homelessness, they provide comprehensive health care and supportive services to people without homes. They advocate for affordable housing and livable incomes for all. And they apply a whole-person approach to care, considering every aspect of a client's life and health in their treatment. During 100,000 clinic visits in 2015, Health Care for the Homeless will help 10,000 children and adults move toward better health and stability.
www.hchmd.org.

About RLHC:

Red Lion Hotels Corporation is a hospitality company primarily engaged in the franchising, management and ownership of upscale, midscale and economy hotels under the Hotel RL, Red Lion Hotel, Red Lion Inn & Suites, GuestHouse International and Settle Inn brands. Established in 1959, the company has 125 hotels system wide and also owns and operates an entertainment and event ticket distribution business. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.redlion.com.

Social Media:

Hashtag: #ProjectWakeUpCall
www.Twitter.com/HotelRL
www.Twitter.com/RedLionHotels
www.Facebook.com/RedLionHotels  
www.Instagram.com/RedLionHotels
www.LinkedIn.com/company/red-lion-hotels

The photos are also available via AP PhotoExpress.