THE SAINT PAUL FOUNDATION RECEIVES HUD SECRETARY'S AWARD
HUD and Council on Foundations honor work of place-based funding organization

WASHINGTON - Across the nation, philanthropic organizations and community foundations work to improve neighborhoods and the lives of the people who live in them, often without much recognition for the critical work that they do. Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in partnership with the Council on Foundations, announced the 2013 winners of the HUD Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships (www.huduser.gov/portal/about/Pub_Phil_2013_Intro.html).

The Saint Paul Foundation in Minnesota is being recognized for its outstanding partnership with the public sector to improve housing and neighborhoods, education, health and recreation, transportation, community participation, arts and culture, public safety, sustainability, and economic development. The award was presented at the Council on Foundations' Community Foundations Conference in San Diego.

"These organizations are doing the heavy lifting to improve neighborhoods, often without much thanks. Today, we say 'thank you!'" said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "These foundations are teaming up with public and private partners to bring about positive change and lasting solutions that are making a real difference in their communities."

"These awards provide us all a moment to reflect on the good work that foundations are doing to advance communities across the country," said Vikki Spruill, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations. "I am grateful to HUD and Secretary Donovan for recognizing the many different ways that foundations are thoughtfully responding to the needs of those around them."

"The Saint Paul Foundation is honored to receive the HUD Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. This recognition reflects the results of the many public, non-profit, community and philanthropic partners who have worked so closely together through the Corridors of Opportunity initiative and the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative. In that spirit, we wish to share this award with the dozens of partners who made these achievements possible," said Carleen Rhodes, President and CEO.

Established in 1940, the Foundation is the state's largest community foundation. Guided by the legacy of its earliest donors, the Foundation helps donors achieve their charitable giving goals and have long-lasting impact in the community. The Foundation is an affiliate of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners. The Saint Paul Foundation supports large-scale, cross-sector initiatives including the 13-member Central Corridor Funders Collaborative begun in 2008 and the regional Corridors of Opportunity initiative launched in 2011. Both initiatives are focused on working with others - local resident organizations, community groups, nonprofit and business coalitions, and public agencies - to create and implement strategies aimed at ensuring that the adjoining neighborhoods, residents and businesses broadly share in the benefits of public and private investment along the region's transit ways. These investments and partnerships are bearing fruit. Grant and loan funds are preserving housing affordability and seeding new development (more than 1,000 housing units and 150,000 square feet of commercial space) along three of the region's transit corridors. In 2012 during the Central Corridor's heavy construction season, 353 small, mostly minority-owned businesses received deep technical assistance, including business planning, marketing, and financial review. Of that cohort, all but four remained in business.

"From revitalizing the riverfront to supporting great schools to preserving housing affordability The Saint Paul Foundation works with partners to preserve the Saint Paul area's strong quality of life," said Antonio R. Riley, HUD's Midwest Regional Administrator.

HUD Secretary Awards are given to place-based funders for completed or ongoing initiatives that are executed in partnership with a local, regional, or federal government agency.

Read more about the winners announced today and the HUD Secretary's Award for Community Foundations (www.huduser.gov/portal/about/Pub_Phil_2013_Intro.html).

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.

The Council on Foundations (www.cof.org), formed in 1949, is a nonprofit membership association of grantmaking foundations and corporations. Council members include more than 1,700 independent, operating, community, public and company-sponsored foundations, and corporate giving programs in the United States and abroad. The Council's mission is to provide the opportunity, leadership, and tools philanthropic organizations need to expand, enhance, and sustain their ability to advance the common good.