Dedication June 27th 2008

Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center and Railton Place
The History behind the name

On January 20, 2004, The Salvation Army announced receipt of $1.5 billion from the estate of Joan Kroc, widow of McDonalds restaurant founder Ray Kroc. Half of the funds will used for the construction of 25-30 community centers across the United States. The other half will be placed in endowment for the operation of the centers. The Salvation Army in San Francisco received a significant allocation to build the new Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center.

In 2004, a spokesman for the estate said that Mrs. Kroc confidently believed that The Salvation Army was uniquely positioned to oversee her gift and her vision to build multiple community centers throughout the country. "Mrs. Kroc was aware of the extraordinary reach of the Army throughout the United States, and their experience in creating programs to reach the people in local communities who need it most," said Dick Starmann. "Furthermore, she trusted this organization to be financially efficient in managing a gift of this size."

As she stated when making the donation for the San Diego center, Mrs. Kroc was inspired by her personal concern for all to live in peace and for youth and adults to have resources that would enable them to reach their full potential. She described the San Diego facility as "a miniature peace center" during the dedication. Mrs Kroc remarked at the time, "Here, children will learn of each other - that's more important than this being a center for recreation."

RAILTON PLACE
The history behind the name

George Scott Railton was one of the unique personalities who helped form the character of The Salvation Army. The son of a Methodist minister, he lost both parents as a result of fever when he was 15 and found himself penniless, homeless, jobless and orphaned. Moved by news of the work of The Salvation Army, Railton journeyed to London in October 1872 to begin his long association with founder General William Booth and the for many years lived as a guest in the Booth household.

In 1880 Railton persuaded General Booth to send him to America and on March 10th he arrived to Castle Garden, New York with seven 'Hallelujah Lassies' to help him start the work of The Salvation Army. New York was fertile territory for the Army, and the work spread rapidly. The Salvation Army came to San Francisco just a few short years later in 1883.

A talent for languages enabled Commissioner Railton to be effective for the Army in many parts of the world. So, he returned to England on the orders of General Booth in early 1880s and was later dispatched to Germany, Spain and Africa to begin the Army's work across the world.

Though he was in poor health, Commissioner Railton continued to travel extensively throughout the remainder of his life, visiting China, Japan and Russia. It was on one of his many journeys that his life came to a sudden end. Commissioner George Scott Railton was "promoted to glory" on July 19th 1913.