2012 March Newsletter
March 2012 Newsletter:
Longbrake Foundation Grant for Cornerstone!
Cornerstone Corporation is thrilled to announce that the Longbrake Family Foundation of Seattle, Washington, has given us $25,000 toward our new project. The Longbrakes have also earmarked another $25,000 for Cornerstone, subject to meeting agreed-on milestones on the road toward growing our organization into something more and better.
The grant proposal was the work of our executive director, Josh Dodson, with the expertise and aid of Dana Malkus, who oversees the New Building Committee. The Corporation had anticipated allocating any funds provided to the rehabilitation of our newest building (5936-38 Etzel), which is projected to house a single family apartment on the second floor, and two studio apartments on the main floor; the latter will serve the needs of women in need of housing who have been served by the Grace and Peace Fellowship’s Women’s Winter Shelter.
However, in funding our proposal, Dorothy and Mark Longbrake have challenged Cornerstone to think beyond short-term goals such as our new building, however worthy they may be. As a result of this challenge, which we see as God’s providential prodding, the Cornerstone board anticipates holding a retreat as soon as is feasible, with a view to rethinking our mission, vision, and strategic goals for both short and long term. Given that we have recently brought Josh on full-time, it seems an apposite moment for such self-reflection.
Please join us in humbly and joyfully thanking our providential God for the Longbrakes’ generosity and challenge!
Photo caption: Dorothy Longbrake, her brother Mark Longbrake, and his infant son Adam met with Josh Dodson, our executive director (wearing the hat) in February.
Prayer requests:
❖ Praise the Lord for his goodness, as manifested by the Longbrake Foundation’s grant to the Corporation!
❖ Pray that people come forward to join the ministry and its Board.
❖ Pray for our tenants, especially those struggling in the present economy.
Adopt-a-Building
We are developing a program where individual churches can adopt a building. We anticipate inviting churches to work with Cornerstone to develop projects for the congregation to work on. Some possibilities we are contemplating include:
- Getting to know tenants who want that kind of contact, providing gifts at Christmas, or help with various needs
- Naming the building and putting up a plaque with the name on it
- Choosing paint colors for the front door, hallways, and so on
- Landscaping
- Providing volunteer labor for painting and other projects
- Holding fundraisers for building needs, such as a new roof or fixing the fire escape
- Creating play spaces in the back yard. (Two of our buildings share a back yard that is big enough for a soccer field. Any soccer coaches out there?
- Joining the New City Fellowship tutoring program which tutors many of the children of our tenants
Of course, churches would adopt not just the “bricks and mortar,” but the people inside. We thought it might be nice for some of our tenants, present and past, to share briefly how Cornerstone properties have been a blessing to them. To that end we have produced some two-minute videos; you can find them at http://www.cornerstone-housing-ministry.org/ministry-opportunity/adopt-a-building/.
New Renovation
Renovation of the new building continues apace. Our project manager, Gabe Wade, is lending us his expertise in organizing the work so as to combine efficiency with a maximum used of volunteer labor We are now entering the second of an anticipated three phases of the renovation; current projects include interior demolition, framing, construction of new back porches, and installation of new windows. Pending the receipt of another grant, we shall be able to move on to the third phase in due time.
We invite both individuals and groups to lend a hand in the effort. To find out more, please contact Cornerstone’s Managing Director, Josh Dodson.
Save stamps! Save paper! Save time!
Donate to Cornerstone today, on-line! Point your browser to http://www.cornerstone-housing-ministry.org/donations/
Cornerstone Corporation
6030 Etzel, St. Louis, MO 63112 314.726.2273 cstone_stl@yahoo.com
www.cornerstone-housing-ministry.org
Cathajane Rieger, President; David Patrick, Vice-President; Jon Easterling, Treasurer; Jim Lowe, Secretary; Beth Dodson, Phyllis Wheeler, Dana Malkus, Board Members;
Josh Dodson, Managing Director
