2006

December 2005

Tender Hearts Foundation proudly presented Rezek House with a grant for $2,000. Rezek House, located in St. Paul, is a two-year transitional living program for homeless youth ages 16 – 21. The building contains 12 efficiency units that are leased to the program participants at 30% of their income. Participation in on-site case management services and independent living skills education are required to ensure each youth’s success in the transitioning to become a contributing member of the community. Services are designed to be both individualized and to create a sense of community where the youth can rely on support and advocacy from staff, volunteers and other programs. Rezek House serves the needs of homeless youth in the metro area.

December 6, 2005

On Tuesday, December 6, twelve members of the Burnsville and Lakeville community gathered to volunteer their time and make bracelets for a great cause. The bracelets, made with swarovski crystal and sterling silver sell for $20. Since the first sale in October, they have been in high demand. They make a great Christmas gift!

The bracelets are available through Tender Hearts Foundation, a non-profit organization in Burnsville. You can order by calling 952-224-7649. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of the bracelets go to help homeless youth in the community.

The overarching goal and mission of Tender Hearts Foundation is to end homelessness in the youth population altogether. On any given night, around 1,000 youth are homeless in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Some are removed from their home for protection and are in the foster care system and some are homeless without a parent.

Initially the funds we raise will go to local shelters for youth. For example, in 2006, the funds we raise will go to transitional housing facilities for homeless youth in Dakota and Scott County. Currently when there is no shelter available for the youth in Dakota and Scott County, they often turn to Hennepin or Ramsey County for shelter. By helping to make additional beds available to youth in Dakota and Scott Counties, we may free up a bed for youth in Hennepin County. The “transitional” element of the housing facility provides the youth with services (such as vocational counseling or independent skills development counseling, etc,) that enable them to transition to becoming independent, productive members of the community. This is just the beginning. We will eventually reach out to provide funding for youth shelters all over the metropolitan area, then all over the state. Our long-term goal is to provide funding for youth shelters at a national level.

October 2005

Tender Hearts Foundation donated nearly 700 t-shirts and several cases of water to be shipped to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Typically the organization has reached out to support homeless youth locally. However, when there were so many victims of the devastation from this natural disaster, we were compelled to somehow reach out to help somehow. These people found themselves homeless with no food, no water, no clothing. We wanted to reach out to them somehow, some way.