LSS
raises goal to $600,000
for Safe Homes, Hopeful Futures
campaign
Response to LSS's Safe Homes,
Hopeful Futures campaign to raise funds for programs serving homeless and
at-risk youth in the Twin Cities metro area has been very strong.
Originally, the goal for the campaign was $400,000, and gifts, as of
October 20, 2004, were almost $375,000.
The $400,000 goal was
established in order to reopen LSS's Safe House emergency shelter in Saint
Paul for homeless youth, which closed temporarily when all State of
Minnesota funds were cut for that program. When Ramsey County stepped
forward with a $110,000 grant, LSS moved forward in faith to reopen the
shelter, believing that other philanthropic support could be found to
continue operating Safe House.
LSS needed to raise $300,000
for a two-year bridge fund to reestablish Safe House, and an additional
$100,000 for a wide range of other programs serving vulnerable youth -
bringing the total goal to $400,000.
Since the original goal was
set for the designated campaign, LSS has experienced another round of cuts
in government funding for youth programs. To be able to keep providing
quality services to at-risk youth, LSS has raised the goal for the
campaign to $600,000 by September 30, 2005. Virtually all services that
help homeless and at-risk youth have suffered some type of budget cutback
this year.
"We are very hopeful about
being able to reach our new goal because of people's strong concern for
the health and safety of our youth," said Jenny Peterson, LSS Director of
Development. "People realize that young people can't fend for themselves
on the streets, and so we all need to work together to help them find
their way to safety. LSS provides a continuum of services for teenagers to
help them learn to live independently and work toward a life plan."
Strong partners in LSS's
efforts to raise funds for the Safe Homes, Hopeful Futures campaign
include the McKnight Foundation, which made available $75,000 as a
matching grant; Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, which promoted the
campaign at Lutheran Night at the Twins and provided a $39,000 matching
grant; and the Minneapolis and Saint Paul Area Synods of the ELCA, whose
congregations are fundraising for this important effort.
