2018 Annual Report 2018 Valedictorian address
Every spring, Life House holds the Celebration of Success fundraising event. This event honors youth who have made significant progress on their personal goals, ranging from completing their GED to maintaining sobriety to keeping employment. One youth is selected to give a short speech to the 250 community members who attend. Below are words from this year’s honoree.
I never thought I’d come this far. When I first came to Life House I was homeless, broke and hope- less. The moment I walked through the door, hope hit me like a smack to the face in the form of staff that welcomed me with open arms. Within a month, they helped me get a place of my own and that began my start to a new life. Within a year, I decided to go to college at LSC. I’m proud to say that I have been surprisingly on the Dean’s list twice. I am also proud to say I just finished my fifth semester, but I still have a long way to go. I couldn’t have done it without the support and guidance of Life House. They gave me hope when I thought I had none, they became much more than staff, they became what I call my second family. Without them, I don’t know where I would be at this very moment. Which brings me to my final take away. A poem that I wrote not too long ago titled: “STAY OR GO?” that I thought unintention- ally fit this moment perfectly.
STAY OR GO?
“Stay or go?” That question pops into my head whenever I look at anyone I care about. I often find myself picturing a day where I’d either be sobbing uncontrollably while I stare at their back as they walk away in the opposite direction or I find myself picturing a day where I’m laughing hysterically while we drive down the street with the music blasting so loudly it almost drowns out the sheer amount of happiness that wants to burst out of my chest when I stare at the person that chose to stay by my side throughout the years. But then there are days when I get home and stare into the mirror and ask myself the same question: “Stay or go?” I often find myself picturing that some day I’d either be sobbing uncontrollably while I stare down at my cut filled arms, bleeding; or I’d find myself picturing that some day I’d be sitting in a rocking chair, smiling with the thought that I’ve made it to the point in my life where my hair is grey, my skin is wrinkled, but my spirit isn’t broken and that I chose to stay all those years ago.
For those of you that think of this same question, “Should I stay or should I go?” Do I have what it takes to succeed?” Choose to stay and never give up on your dreams because one day you’ll say the same thing I did, I never thought I’d come this far.
-2018 Celebration of Success Valedictorian 2018 Numbers
843 Youth Reached Through All Programs 12,092 Meals Served in the Youth Center 1277 Visits to the Free Store 427 Youth Center Groups, Classes & Activities 55 Youth Resided in Life House Housing Program 74 Placed in Affordable Housing in the Community 11 Youth Stayed at Sol House for Trafficking Survivors for 826 Bednights 24 Youth Stayed at The Loft Teen Emergency Shelter for 1501 Bednights 106 Youth Provided Mental Health Counseling and 39 Received Drug Counseling 20 Active in “Sober Life” Sobriety Support Group 118 Youth Received Academic Support 10 Completed High School, GED, or a Post-Secondary Degree 94 Youth Received Employment Support 29 Youth Received an Average of 45 Hours of Paid Job Training in the Legitimate Hustle Program 2018 Board of Directors Ron ALston Eric Huie Shane Jopke, Co-Chair Community relations A Touch of Plasch United Health care Patrick Boyle Morgana Kolenda Leanne Ventrella, Co-Chair St. louis county Commissioner maurices MN 6th Judicial District Charles Fai Nick Lepak David Barnes, Treasurer Minnesota sex offender program Duluth PolicE Department U.S. Bank Renee Gibbs Jim Paulson Laurie Hull, Secretary Fond Du Lac Retired Center for Alcohol & Drug Treatment Cheryl Goldberg Gudrun Witrak IGO Legacy Hotel Group Retired Financial Report Expense Revenue
Futures $219,983 10% Contributions $271,945 11%
Housing $1,118,421 53% Foundation Grants $661,638 27%
Youth Center $234,528 11% Government Grants $1,286,739 53%
Wellness $252,052 12% Fundraising Events $58,201 2%
Management/General $257,310 12% Program Revenue $160,956 7%
Fundraising $15,587 1% Other $7,528 0%
Total $2,097,881 Total $2,447,007 Funding Partners
• Anonymous • North Star Foundation • Ben and Jeanne Overman Charitable Trust • Northland Foundation • Bernick Family Foundation • Open Your Heart to The Hungry And Homeless • BNSF Railway • Ordean Foundation • Cathedral Community Cares • Pachel Foundation • City of Duluth • RBC Wealth Management Foundation • CN • Rotary Club #25 • Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation • Shavlik Family FoundationExpenses Graph • Essentia Health Foundation • St. Louis County Placeholder • Harbortown Rotary • State of Minnesota • Head of the Lakes United Way • The Victory Fund • Hearth Connection • US Bank Foundation • Junior League of Duluth • US Department of Housing and Urban • Kiwanis Club of Friendly Duluth Development • Lahti Family Charitable Trust • US Department of Justice: Office on Violence • Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation Against Women • Mardag Foundation • Young Athletes Foundation • Miller-Dwan Foundation • YouthPrise 2018 Donors
Patrick Day and Jamie Sathers-Day GIfts Of $2,500 + gifts of $500 - $999 Lynn and Patrick Devlin Anonymous Michael and Ellen Altman Beth and Rick Elstad Hillary Allard Patricia Anderson William and Colleen Erickson Cheryl Goldberg Tammi Gimple Joe Everett David and Lisa Goldberg Kevin and Prerna Brisky Laurie Fosnacht Jim and Nancy Holmgren Hans Casperson Keith & Lynne Hamre Ward and Charlotte Johnson Wendy Champness & Loren Snyder Dennis Hamsher James & Diane Miner Deb DeLuca and Eric Dott Doug Hoffman and Jennifer Pearson Dore Stubenvoll Mary Dwan Jim and Kris Jarocki Thomas and Barbara Elliott Eric Johnson Dean and Tammy Fox Nick Johnson and Amy White Gifts of $1,500 - $2,499 Kandi Garrison and Paul Fish John Judd and Karen Olesen Richard and Linda Goese Diane Kauppi Jinell Abernethy Steve Grindy Lesley Kleveter Patrick and Jennifer Boyle Gilbert Harries Morgana and Leroy Kolenda Liliya Gokhberg Carolyn Heistad Dennis Lamkin and Jon Niemi Robert E. Hoyt Scott & Amber Johnson Donna and Joel Manns Harvey Plasch and Eric Huie Shane & Nichole Jopke John & Anne Marxhausen Patrick & Gail Schoenfelder Andrew Korteum Todd Mayclin Leanne Ventrella and John Hoivik Diane Krueger Michael and Julie McDonnell Elise Lindaman Cindy & Jim McLean Timothy and Karyn Lutz David and Anne Miller Gifts of $1,000 - $1,499 Melvin Maki Linnea Betzler Mirsch Joel and Marilyn Bamford Sean and Deena Peterson Clinton Moen Richard and Liz Burns Dan and Rosey Skorich Randi Nyholm Debbie Cervenka Wade Smith and Kathleen Braddy Donald and Claudia O’Connor George and Elizabeth Goldfarb Steve & Kim Squillace Sandra Pederson Theresa Grosser Michael & Luanne Wachula Hilde & Steve Perala Roderick and Kathleen Hood Tina Welsh and Kathy Heltzer Joanne and Steve Piper-Mauer Laurie Hull Katherine Zeppa David Rovano Lloyd Ketchum and Kimberly Michael Sadowski Krohn Gifts of $250 - $499 Nancy Samuelson Danielle Lindberg Dean and Debra Ager John and Peggy Scott Joan Mork Tim and Kay Allen Mary and Bill Seitz James Mohn & Heather Muster Paul and Carol Anderson Bruce and Kaye Stender James and Linda Paulson Christine and Edward Barta John and Susan Streitz Mickey and Keely Pearson Karis Boerner Bob Stubenvoll Sarah H. Sneve Mark and Mary Dell Carlson Ronn and Pamela Tomassoni Elaine Wickstrom Donald and Jodi Christensen Gay Trachsel Geof and Gudrun Witrak Jill Christie Robert and Lorraine Turner Noah Craft Mark Wick Darrel and Pam Zimmer
*Don’t see your name listed? We apologize. Please let us know. 2018 Donors Bernadette Burnham Jeffrey and Kelly Goetzman Bill and Pat Burns Susan and Stan Goltz Cynthia Busch Nelson Tif Grange Mary Campbell Gary & Jeanette Grell Peter and Virginia Campbell Richard and Dawn Griffith Al and Yvonne Carl Terri and Joe Griffiths John & Pat Carow Tom and Pam Griggs Gifts Under $250 Chris and Jeanne Carroll Beverly Grindahl Jean Abramson David Carroll Michael Grossman and Holly Church Steve Acheson Nancy E. Cashman Jim Gruba Beth Adams Jeremy and Robin Churchill Charity Gurovitsch Barb Akre Gerald Cleveland and Marjorie Lucie Han Dean and Terri Alexander Anderson Sarah Hanhan Maria L. Allen Dawn Conlan John and Anne Hansen Jolene Allison Thomas & Carlyle Conrad Lindsey Hansen Ron and Jane Alston Marylou Crain Bill and Jan Hanson Linda Amundsen Eddie Crawford Geraldine Hanson Catherine Anderson Lesley and Stewart Crosby Kyle and Mary Ann Harriss Heather Anderson Tony and Erin Cuneo Beverly and John Hart William and Karen Anderson Christopher and Carmel Demaioribus Peggy Haselow Tim and Laura Andrew Kathryn Dexter Todd and Mary Hautajarvi Judy Aspling Gayle and Mary Draxten Mark and Rachel Hayward Judith Bailey Roberta Dwyer Eve and Eric Hessler Lee Ball Emily Edison Johanna Hislop David and Julie Bard John and Diane Edwards Alexander Hoffman Robert & Marilew Barnidge John Erickson and Gail Blum Egil & Gudrun Hoivik Elizabeth Bartlett Amanda Evans Betsy & John Holcomb Winfried Baur Chuck and Vicki Faegre Phil and Jill Holsinger Carla Bayerl Charles Fai and Shannon May Wendy and Brian Homstad Diane Bean Donna Farrell Elliot and Elissa Hoole Kim Beard Angela and Tim Fellman George and Connie Host Terry and Sharon Becker Pat Finney LeAnn House Gwen Benson Shaun and Sara Floerke Oliver and MaryAnn Houx Linda Benson Brian and Monique Forcier Leanna Lee Hudson Thomas Betts and Therese Presley Bill Forseth and Lorrie Fox Robert Hunter Cindy and David Blomberg Michael & Ernestine Forsman Ryan Irlbeck Elizabeth Twining Blue Diane Foss-Engstrom Julie Jago Russell Boheim Harold and Ruth Frederick Lynda John David and Kelly Bolgrien Fred and Alana Friedman Brent and Leslie Johnson Natalie Bothwell Robert and Marcia Fulton Gunnar and Ingrid Johnson Merlyn and Mary Bowker Tina Gagne Joseph B. Johnson, III Melissa Boyle and Jennifer Johanna Garrison Scott and Mary Johnson Stenersen Susanna Gaunt Dawn Jordan Aaron and Jen Boyson Roger and Gloria Gebhard Krysta Kaas John and Kathy Bray Cami and Tom Gibbons Sheri and Jeff Kalm Amy Brouillette John Gibbs Sharon Kaner Barbara Brown Judy Gibbs Kimberly Keil and Robert Nygaard Laura Budd Carol Gieseke Kathryn Kelly Patty Bugliosi and Andrew Bob and Gayle Gilmore Charles Kendall Thompson Linda Glaser Gene & Sandra Keyser Bradley and Lori Bunge Neil Glazman and Barb Russ John and Elaine Killen Thomas and Debra Buresh Donald & Sarah Goebel Deborah King
*Don’t see your name listed? We apologize. Please let us know. 2018 Donors Margie Nelson & Steve Wick Rene Settergren Alan Netland Dawn Shykes Lois Nordean John and Toby Sillanpa Kimberly Nygaard Anne Sitek Bradley and Lezlie Oachs Ommund Skaar Mitchell Odell Carmel and Duane Skar Theresa O’Gara Toivo and Annelie Sober Marjorie Klint Bethany Olmstead Tim Spangenberg and Julie Zenner Mike Kokotovich Gail Olson and Erik Peterson Larry and Joanne Spears Ken Kolquist James Olson Robert Spehar Michael Koppy Kyle O’Reilly and Nicole Wise Carol Spielman Cathy and Jerry Kortesmaki Jeffery and Amy Packer Kelly Steinmetz and Kirsta Majerus Karen and Frank Koshere James and Andrea Palumbo Roxy Stolis Don Kozlovski Judith A. Patshkowski Bill and Mary Stroozas Roger and Laura Laaksonen Dayle and Gregg Patterson Sonia Sturdevant Debra Lafave Ahna Pelto Ann Sudoh Koresh and Jill Lakhan Ethan Perry Carolyn Sundquist Mark Laliberte and Karen Sunderman Sarah and Megan Perry-Spears Michael and Donna Sunnafrank Nathan and Veronica Langer Kathy Peterson Kane Tewes and Mary Anderson Andrea Larson Richard Petersson Mia Thibodeau Julie Legg Audra Pike Carol Thompson James and Betty Lehet Laura Piotrowski Dale and Ruth Thorpe Nick and Erika Lepak Dave and Shelley Plude Russell and Molly Tillotson Dan Lew and Pakou Ly Harry & Janice Podgorski Arne and Yvonne Vainio Judith Lewis Marcia Podratz Sara Vallie Kathy Lichterman Alexis Pogorelskin Scott and Kate Van Daele John and Carol Lilyquist Randall Poole Gene and Lynnette Verhel Matt and Ann Lind John and LoraLee Prouty Jason R. Vincent & Jeff Anderson Jeffrey A. Linder Paul Ranelli and Carla Brink Charles and Catherine Vonrueden Thomas & Jude Ling Heather L Rappana James and Alice Waldo Kevin and Laura Lott Lance Reasor Sandra and Russell Ward Lisa Luokkala Todd Redmann Suzanne Wasilczuk Tom & Kathy Maas Mary Pat Renaud Dannette Watkins Malcolm & Anne Macaulay Raina and Ton Riedesel Andrea and Eric Watson Jackie MacMillan Cristy and Larry Rivers Timothy and Clara Weitz Dan and Sarah Maddy Debra Rose Debbie Welle-Powell Bob and Candy Madich Michael and Betsy Rosenzweig Roger and Jean Wells Jan Magree Olga Rosenzweig Peter and Wendy Williamson Gerald and Beverly Martin Karen Ruona Paul and Mary Windberg Sandi Martin Alan Ruppe Christine Winkler Johnson Kyle Martinson Kara and Cory Salmela Marlys Wisch Rachel and Gregory Mason Joe Sandbulte Peter Wodrich and Deborah Freed- Myrna Matheson Heather Schmidt man Don McIsaac Russ and Diane Schmidt Kirby and Cathy Wood Susan Meyer Susan E. Schmidt Jeffrey Woolverton Drew Miller Trudi Schmies Hans and Reva Wronka Lynsey Mogck Patricia Schmitt Karen Maack Younggren Daniel and Karen Morgan Cailyn Schumacher Tony and Sharon Yung Julie & Tom Morgan William and Pamela Schwartau Tim and Anita Zager Laura & Colin Mullen Scott Seagroves Robert Zallar Constance Murphy Jack and Cindy Seiler Dennis and Vicky Zimmerman Timothy Musick Jean Seinola Paul and Karen Zimmerman Lynn and Tom Nelson Robert and Margaret Seitz Michael Zlonis
*Don’t see your name listed? We apologize. Please let us know. 2018 Donors Businesses & Organizations
• Lake Superior Interfaith Community Church • A Touch of Plasch • Lakeside Presbyterian Church • Altrusa International • Law Office of Jessica Sterle, P.A. • Arrowhead Regional Development • Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd Commission • maurices • Asbury United Methodist Church • Messina and Associates • Barr Engineering Co • Miller Hill Car Wash • Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica • Miner’s Inc. - Super One Foods • Bent Paddle Brewing Co. • Minnesota Correctional Facility - • Beta Iota Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Rush City • Blush • Minnesota Power • Boat Club Restaurant • Minnesota Power Employees Credit Union • Castle Danger Brewery • National Bank Of Commerce • Cloquet Natural Foods • North Shore Bank of Commerce • CMC Construction Campbell • Our Savior’s Lutheran Church • Darrow Road Wesleyan Church • Peace in Christ Lutheran Church • Donald Holm Construction Co. • Pilgrim Congregational Church • Duluth Congregational Church • Planned Parenthood Minnesota, ND, SD • Duluth Dodge • Rod’s Berry Farm • Duluth East High School • Salem Covenant Church • Duluth News Tribune • Salem Lutheran Church • Duluth Superior Friends Meeting • Security Jewelers • Duluth Yoga • St. Francis Catholic Church • eLogger • St. Luke’s Hospital • First Lutheran Church • St. Joseph’s Ladies Guild • First United Methodist Church • St. Peter’s Esther Circle • Fitger’s On-The-Lake, LLC • Swim Creative • Forbes United Methodist Church • Temple Israel • Give MN • The River Church • Glen Avon Presbyterian Church • Trinity Lutheran Church - Cook, MN • Hanft Fride • Trinity Lutheran Church Duluth • Harbortown Rotary • Truist Comprehensive Distribution • Hillside United Methodist Church • Unitarian Universalist Congregation • Hope Lutheran Church Floodwood • US Bank • Hope Lutheran Church Moose Lake • Westminster Presbyterian Church • Hope United Methodist Church • Wheeler and Associates • IGO Legacy Hotel Group • Whimsy • Irving Community Association • Whole Foods Co-op • J C Olsen Enterprises • Wilderness Wellness Chiropractic LLC • Kia of Duluth • Kraus-Anderson Construction Company
*Don’t see your name listed? We apologize. Please let us know. Life House Honored
Life House was honored with the Minnesota Department of Human Services Commis- sioner’s Circle of Excellence Award. The awards recognize excellence among human services providers, counties, tribes, advocacy groups and other organizations that work in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services to help people meet their basic needs so they can live in dignity and achieve their highest potential.
Executive Director Maude Dornfeld was recognized during The Woman Today Magazine’s Rosie Awards Program Director Erich Lutz was recognized Celebration with the Leadership Award. with the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless’s Congressman Bruce Vento Distinguished Service Award in recognition of the efforts of an outstanding individual who provides services and housing to people in need. 2018 Highlights
The 2018 Prom theme was Masquerade. All of the youth had a blast!
Life House was a site for the Wilder Foundation’s Minnesota Homeless Study. This point-in-time survey occurs every three years and assesses statewide homeless trends.
In partnership with Positive Energy Outdoors, youth were able to try kayaking on Fredenberg Lake.
Minnesota Power hosted a barbecue in our parking lot. Eventually this space will be come a fenced in recreation area for youth.
The Life House staff pose before opening the doors to the annual Holiday Party. Thanks to The Legitimate Hustle Program sold candles at generous supporters, we were able to distribute many community events, including Duluth GLBT gifts to more than 100 youth and young families. Pride Fest in Bayfront Park.