 Jim Palmer, President
Jim Palmer was born and raised in Orange County, when at the age of 14, he felt called to rescue those who were less fortunate. As President of the Orange County Rescue Mission since 1993, Jim has worked to create long-term self-sufficiency and stability among our county’s homeless. In addition, Jim is President of Hurtt Family Health Clinic, Temecula Murrieta Rescue Mission, and OperationOC, which have been established since Jim’s presidency of OCRM. Jim was elected to the Tustin City Council in November of 2006. On July 3rd, 2007 President George W. Bush nominated Jim for the position of Director, Corporation for National and Community Service, term ending 2011. Within Orange County, Jim is widely known as a leader in the field of homeless issues. He believes absolutely in the benefit of collaboration to accomplish a greater good, and provides invaluable guidance and insight through his volunteer involvement on over 42 different government and nonprofit boards. Jim has been instrumental in effecting lasting positive change in services for the homeless, seniors, veterans, children, families, those who are sick and those who are hurting throughout Southern California.
Jim has led OCRM to address the growing needs of homeless families and individuals living in and out of motels, cars, parks, and other diverse places through the development of mobile outreach programs to serve the homeless. These include a mobile food pantry, two mobile medical clinics, a fixed medical clinic for low-income patients with no insurance, and a mobile technology vehicle for training and career services. Since 1997, he has served as a County Commissioner for the Orange County Housing Commission; today he serves as its Vice Chairman, and was instrumental in the development of the Continuum of Care Leadership Cabinet, a sub-committee of the Housing Commission which assists in the development of regional strategies for homeless programs, which he serves as its Chairman. Out of this Leadership Cabinet, the county government was guided to create planning groups to focus on advocacy, homeless prevention, outreach and assessment, transitional and emergency shelters, and affordable housing programs. As Chair of the Leadership Cabinet, Jim has helped the Orange County government secure over $60 million in federal funding for county homeless programs.
Furthermore, Jim’s vision for collaboration led him to found the Orange County Partnership, a collaborative group of hunger, housing, and healthcare providers. In addition, Jim recently served on the Orange County Mental Health Board. Under Jim’s visionary leadership, OCRM has received national recognition for their rates of success from client graduates and entrepreneurial approaches to developing self-sufficiency, including award of the 211th Presidential Point of Light, Governor Schwarzenegger’s Service Award (2004), and most recently, recognition from President George W. Bush at the First Annual Faith-based Initiatives Conference in Washington, D.C., where Jim had a place of honor on stage with the President. Jim’s passion for helping the homeless extends far beyond a desire to benefit OCRM. He leads by example and is known for his honesty and integrity. Thus, he has earned the respect of numerous local & national officials. When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit in 2005, Jim and the Orange County Rescue Mission led a county-wide effort to assist the hurricane evacuees who came to Orange County. As a result, this was the only county in the nation who allowed a government, public and non-profit disaster recovery effort to be led by a non-profit organization.
“Jim is an impressive person. You have to put him near the top of what’s happening that’s really meaningful in Orange County” says General William Lyon. “Jim is someone who’s willing to think outside of the box” says Chairman John M.W. Moorlach, OC Board of Supervisors. “Jim’s a hero, He’s a man who gives unselfishly… just look at his family” said Bart Hansen, Chairman of the Orange County Rescue Mission Board of Directors. |
