Record-breaking funds raised during Housing First Minnesota Foundation Gala

The Housing First Minnesota Foundation hosted its biggest night of fundraising during its annual gala in April. Throughout the evening, a sold-out crowd of 450 builders, remodelers, trade partners and Foundation supporters raised a record-setting $420,000 for Minnesotans in need.

The mission of the Housing First Minnesota Foundation is to end homelessness in Minnesota by building safe housing for those in need. Together with their build partners and community groups, the Foundation works to provide housing for groups like veterans and mothers receiving substance abuse counseling. To date, the Foundation has completed 62 community builds and 99,000 square feet of housing across the Twin Cities area.

The program began with remarks from community partners and residents who have been impacted directly by the work of the Foundation. Then, the 2022 award recipients were recognized for going above and beyond in supporting the work of the Foundation. Lennar Minnesota was awarded the 2022 Build Partner Award, Richard and Bonnie Berg of Contract Interiors, Inc. were presented the 2022 Distinguished Service Award, and the 2022 Hearts in Housing Award was awarded to Mike and Carole Petersen and Cavan and Cindy Lasch.

The Housing First Minnesota Foundation is currently taking on its biggest effort to date. In 2023, they plan on completing four brand-new homes in Minneapolis complete with four accessory dwelling units. These homes will be a part of the Foundation’s Housing for Heroes project, which provides housing for veterans facing homelessness.

The evening also featured a live and silent auction, a live fund-aneed and an after-party featuring casino games.