amherst h. wilder foundation 2007 annual report as good as our ...

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Mission, Vision and History
Wilder Stories
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– School Success 6
– Affordable Housing 8
– Troubled Youth & Families 10
– Homeless Study 12
– Effective Leadership 14
– Successful Aging 16
Board of Directors 18
Programs 20
Financial Report 21
Gifts and Grants 22
Legacy Sponsors 31
Until December 31, 2007
919 Lafond Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55104
651-642-4000
After January 1, 2008
451 Lexington Parkway North
Saint Paul, MN 55104
651-280-2000
A M E S S A G E F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T A N D B O A R D C H A I R
This past year has been an exciting one for the Wilder Foundation. The new
Wilder Center, located at Lexington Parkway and University Avenue, is in the
final stages of construction. Our new facility, which combines several program
sites, is set for occupancy in early 2008, and will allow the Foundation to expand
its capacity to provide 22,000 client visits and community convening space to over
10,000 people annually.
A unique feature of Wilder Center, a concrete “word band” surrounding the building,
is comprised of 26 word pairs drawn from the original Wilder family wills, articles
of incorporation and mission statement. By carving these words in stone, words that
capture the spirit of the Wilder family’s wishes, we will provide a daily reminder to
all who walk through our doors of the Foundation’s purpose to enrich the Saint Paul
community and improve the lives of its most vulnerable citizens.
Let us share some samples of progress over the past year through the lens of those
words pairs:
transform lives Through all of Wilder’s programs and services, we seek to enrich
the lives of the clients we serve, assist them in their efforts to become productive and
contributing citizens, and improve their overall quality of life. Over the past year,
Wilder has touched the lives of more than one in 20 persons in Saint Paul.
nurture children School success is a primary focus for Wilder. The Superintendent
of the Saint Paul Schools has given her enthusiastic support to Achievement Plus, the
Foundation’s academic reform effort. This project is in the process of expanding to
an additional school, Cleveland Junior High.
remove barriers Wilder is committed to removing barriers to success, and one key
way is to provide safe, affordable and stable housing. Best stated by a Wilder resident,
“What a difference an address makes,” the Foundation is considering potential plans
for four new affordable housing projects in Saint Paul.
support families Wilder places major emphasis on helping the most troubled
children and their families, often while they face overwhelming circumstances.
Over the past year, the Foundation touched the lives of 2,941 kids, who without
receiving these services and support would be experiencing severe behavioral
problems.
share knowledge Wilder has demonstrated continued growth in its
research impact, most notably this year through another release of the Homeless
Study, which provides the factual basis for the State of Minnesota’s plan to end
long-term homelessness.
inspire community One of the Foundation’s goals is to inspire individual members
of the community to develop new skills and take on challenges to improve society.
One example of such inspiration was the recent development of a Spanish-speaking
Leadership Development Program for new Latina women in Saint Paul.
value elders Wilder has developed its initial plans for a Center for Healthy Aging,
designed to find additional alternatives to nursing homes, support caregivers of the
aged, and promote prevention strategies to assist with healthy aging.
press forward As we embark on our second century of service to Saint Paul,
Wilder looks forward to growing its services with and for our community.
We extend our profound gratitude to everyone who has assisted us in reaching
this exciting time in our history.
Tom Kingston, President Elizabeth (Sandy) M. Kiernat, Wilder Board Chair
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