Shelter Friends of Dane County surpasses $1 million fundraising milestone

MEDIA CONTACT Kristin Rucinski Executive Director, Shelter Friends of Dane County Email: daneshelterfriends@gmail.com Phone: (219) 718-5548

Shelter Friends of Dane County surpasses $1 million fundraising milestone

TruStage® Foundation gift advances Dane County’s first 24-hour men’s shelter

MADISON, Wis. — Today, Shelter Friends of Dane County, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) focused on advancing homelessness solutions in Dane County, announced it has surpassed $1 million in fundraising support for Dane County’s first-ever 24-hour men’s shelter. This milestone was made possible by the generosity of donors across the community, from individual gifts of all sizes to transformative contributions from lead partners. This includes a $125,000 gift from the TruStage® Foundation, the philanthropic arm of TruStage, a financially strong insurance and financial services provider, along with support from Lau & Bea Christensen Charitable Foundation, Dan & Patti Rashke (TASC) Family Foundation, MGE Foundation, Oscar Rennebohm Foundation, UW Health, and others.

The newly constructed shelter, built with public funding from the City of Madison and Dane County at 1904 Bartillon Drive in Madison, will open initially as an overnight shelter. Once operations of the overnight shelter have fully transitioned from the temporary shelter to the new shelter, planning for expanded services will ramp up. Community-based funds raised by Shelter Friends will support these expanded operations, allowing the shelter to be open around the clock, seven days a week.

Operating the shelter 24/7 will give men experiencing homelessness consistent access to case management, housing navigation, employment assistance and other resources during the day, eliminating the daily cycle of exiting and reentering the shelter to secure a bed.

“Crossing the $1 million mark is an incredible moment for our community’s homeless response system,” said Kristin Rucinski, spokesperson and sole employee of Shelter Friends. “This is the first men’s shelter of its kind in our county and reaching this milestone shows what’s possible when the community comes together. We are deeply grateful to TruStage Foundation and all the other donors who helped make this possible.”

For decades, Dane County’s men’s shelter system has operated as an overnight-only, limiting opportunities for individuals to access services that support long-term housing stability. Shelter Friends was formed to raise private dollars that complement public investment and provide a better pathway from homelessness to housing.

“At TruStage, we believe a brighter financial future should be accessible to everyone,” said Kate Austin Stanford, president of the TruStage Foundation. “Supporting Shelter Friends of Dane County aligns with our commitment to strengthening communities and helping people access the stability and resources they need to move forward.”

While the $1 million milestone establishes a strong foundation for expanded operations, Shelter Friends will continue fundraising to help sustain 24/7 services long term and ultimately has a goal of raising $20 million for an endowment. As the endowment assets increase, less reliance on annual fundraising will be needed. For more information on how you can contribute, visit shelterfriendsdaneco.org.

About Shelter Friends of Dane County Shelter Friends of Dane County, Inc. is a registered 501(c)3 that engages the private sector in partnership with public entities to ensure our community’s first purpose-built shelter can operate at its fullest potential – providing safe, 24/7 access and connections to essential services for men experiencing homelessness.

About TruStage® Foundation The TruStage Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) that serves as the philanthropic arm of TruStage. Efforts of the TruStage Foundation center on building equity in the communities where we live and serve. TruStage is a financially strong insurance and financial services provider, built on the philosophy of people helping people. We believe a brighter financial future should be accessible to everyone, and our products and solutions help people confidently make financial decisions that work for them at every stage of life. With a culture rooted and focused on creating a more equitable society and financial system, we are deeply committed to giving back to our communities to improve the lives of those we serve. For more information, visit www.trustage.com.

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