Courtesy photo
Mark Swann, executive director of Preble Street
Updated: October 18, 2021
Preble Street raises $14M to address homelessness and related issues
Courtesy / Preble Street
Preble Street, a Portland nonprofit human service agency, exceeded its $14 million fundraising goal, with an eye toward increasing capacity and services.
By Staff
Despite a pandemic pause in fundraising, the Portland human services nonprofit Preble Street has exceeded a capital campaign goal to raise $14 million for services helping Mainers in poverty, including those who experience homelessness.
With money raised from 650 donors, the Campaign for Preble Street will fund six initiatives to meet critical needs and empower people and communities, according to a news release.
The initiatives are:
- A healing center that opened in September to support survivors of human trafficking
- A new 40-bed wellness shelter to provide services to people experiencing homelessness and complex health/behavioral issues
- Consolidation of 24/365 services and shelter for homeless and runaway youth
- Expanded women’s shelter capacity
- Investment in high-impact advocacy work to advance public policy
- A fund to support emergency services in the face of increasing demand.
“What defines the Preble Street mission, above all, is removing the barriers people face when trying to access services in their fight against poverty,” Executive Director Mark Swann said in the release.
“Our staff has worked harder than ever over the past 19 months — they’ve adapted to the challenges of the pandemic and have continued to help Maine’s most vulnerable people. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this Campaign, Preble Street will be able to continue to provide opportunity and hope.”
Complex challenges
The campaign allows Preble Street to build capacity and develop responses to the complex challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Maine.
“Our community stepped up to help Preble Street carry forward its mission, which is more essential today than ever before,” Yemaya St. Clair, a board member and campaign co-chair, said in the release.
Preble Street received critical support for the campaign through leadership gifts from Unum Group, L.L.Bean Inc. and Sara Gideon, as well as the Leon & Lisa Gorman Fund, Hawk Rock Foundation, Deborah Hart and Bill Goodykoontz, Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust and the Sam L. Cohen Foundation.
Pandemic pause
During the campaign’s quiet phase in 2019, the entire Preble Street board contributed gifts, setting the stage for participation from a wide variety of individual, corporate and foundation donors. Preble Street volunteers and longtime supporters also contributed several gifts anonymously.
Although the pandemic forced the campaign to pause temporarily, Unum provided a gift that provided critical momentum when the campaign relaunched.
“We are proud to partner with Preble Street as they continue to provide critical support to those who need it most in the state of Maine,” said Mike Simonds, Unum’s chief operating officer.
L.L.Bean gave a pledge that put the campaign over the finish line in September.
“For generations, our family and employees have supported the critical mission of Preble Street through volunteerism and financial contributions,” said Shawn Gorman, L.L.Bean’s executive chairman. “We believe in a stakeholder philosophy and count Preble Street among our stakeholders for the work they do to improve and empower our community.”
Earlier this year, KeyBank announced Preble Street would be among nonprofit organizations to split $2.35 million in philanthropic grants.
Early in the pandemic, Preble Street and the University of Southern Maine partnered to create a temporary 50-bed shelter for people in need, with assistance from the Maine State Housing Authority and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
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