With a gift of $500,000 from the LSS Foundation and a gift of $250,000 from the Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation, the Center for Changing Lives Capital Campaign has now reached 94% of the $27 million goal.

In addition, attendees pledged over $150,000 during the live auction at the LSS Celebration for Changing Lives at International Market Square on September 25. These recent commitments bring LSS ever closer to leveraging the $1.2 million Challenge Grant from The Kresge Foundation, which has a December 31, 2008 deadline.

Even more exciting is that families are moving in this month to the 48 units of affordable housing next to the Center for Changing Lives. The Star Tribune carried a heartwarming feature story on Saturday about a grandmother raising her five young grandchildren who needed affordable housing to make it all work. To read this inspiring report about a grandmother on a mission, click here.

KARE 11 News also highlighted a story recently about the significant contribution by Faegre & Benson, whose attorneys not only donated a giant playground for the new Center for Changing Lives, but sent a volunteer crew to build it. To view the story, click here.

The continued generosity of the Minnesota philanthropic community is stunning. Some said it couldn’t be done, but we are almost there! Help us sprint to the finish line of this campaign and be part of something really special in Minnesota that will change lives for generations.

If you haven’t already made a donation, click here. And to those who have, LSS thanks you.