The Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley will devote both the grant funds and the new contribution income to the operations of their core programs – sheltering and feeding the homeless, providing case management and referral services to the homeless so they can increase their income and secure housing, and to prevent homelessness for those who are at risk of becoming homeless.  

Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley expenses continue to increase annually as the costs associated with serving the homeless increase and their fixed costs of personnel, insurance and maintenance also increase.  Adding to the financial burden of these increases in fixed expenses is the fact that many donors do not increase their annual contribution from year to year in an amount in keeping with these cost of living increases.   Contributions from the business community, charitable organizations and individuals often remain the same from year to year. 

“This challenge grant will really help the Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley build an awareness that not only are new donors important to our financial stability, but that our existing supporters can play an important part in addressing the increases in our annual fixed costs,” said Craig Christensen, President of the Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley Board of Directors.  “New donors and new sources of income are important and this challenge grant will truly help to both grow the number of new donors and to create an incentive for existing donors to address the reality that operating costs increase annually and that by increasing their annual donation they can continue make a real impact.”    

Debra Cronmiller, Executive Director of the Emergency Shelter indicated that the Keller  family and members of the Board of Directors of the J.J. Keller Foundation have supported the work of the Emergency Shelter since its inception in 1981. “The Keller family and now the Foundation have a strong commitment in the Fox Cities to helping those in need. This creative challenge comes at a critical time as the Emergency Shelter is working to strengthen our partnerships in the community and to develop innovative new ways to provide meaningful services to those who are homeless so that they can not only meet their basic needs today but also for year’s to come.”  The grant will assist the Emergency Shelter to meet its annual fund development goal of $1,308,340.

The mission of the Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley is to provide temporary shelter to homeless individuals and families in a safe environment, while providing guidance to those both homeless and at-risk that promotes independence.