Thanks to our amazing community, The Campaign for Preble Street has raised more than $14 million from 650 donors to fund six initiatives that will meet critical needs and empower people and communities, including:

• A Healing Center, opened in September 2021, 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

The Campaign allows Preble Street to build capacity and develop solutions-oriented responses to the complex challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Maine. Preble Street board members and Campaign Co-Chairs, Elaine Rosen and Yemaya St. Clair, provided exceptional leadership for this historic and innovative initiative. “Our community stepped up to help Preble Street carry forward its mission, which is more essential today than ever before. It has been a huge honor to be a part of the effort,” said St. Clair.

“I am beyond proud of the intensely human work that Preble Street does so well,” adds Rosen. “To be in a community that understands Preble Street’s impact is most gratifying.”

Preble Street received critical support for The Campaign through Leadership gifts from Unum,  L.L.Bean, 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.

During the Campaign’s quiet phase in 2019, the entire Preble Street board contributed generous 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 extraordinary gifts anonymously.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic forced The Campaign to pause temporarily, Unum provided a very generous 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 exemplified their continued commitment to Maine communities with a leadership gift 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 and great-grandson of L.L. Bean. “We believe in a stakeholder philosophy and count Preble Street among our stakeholders for the work they do to improve and empower our community. It is our honor to have put the campaign across the finish line.”

“What defines the Preble Street mission, above all, is removing the barriers people face when trying to access services in their fight against poverty. 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,” said Executive Director Mark Swann. “Thanks to everyone who contributed to this Campaign, Preble Street will be able to continue to provide opportunity and hope. This is an incredible investment in our mission.”

You can still donate to the Campaign and support the people we serve!