SYG Fund
Sister Yvonne Gellise Fund for Permanent Supportive Housing Services
established to create lasting, systemic solutions to homelessness in Washtenaw County.
The Sr. Yvonne Gellise Endowment Fund for Permanent Supportive Housing Services was established to create lasting, systemic solutions to homelessness in Washtenaw County. The endowment fund focuses on developing an infrastructure of permanent supportive housing services to sustain housing for the members of our community most in need, in partnership with federal, county and community efforts.
“The best way to end homelessness is to prevent homelessness by identifying and working to eliminate its root causes. Our community is blessed to have the capacity to generate an abundance of resources that can, with willingness and compassion, be invested in this common cause. ”
Impact
$487,495 Granted Out to Date
National and local studies have shown that “permanent supportive housing” - housing combined with services to meet the specific needs of those who experience sustained or frequent homelessness - yields positive outcomes compared to programs that provide only shelter.
Why Permanent Supportive Housing Works
Supportive services such as integrated primary care and mental health services, substance abuse counseling, employment or vocational training, transportation, problem solving or dispute resolution, crisis management and stabilization, and preventative intervention help people address the underlying issues and stay housed.
Positive outcomes include:
Providing supportive housing services is also cost effective, helping people with the greatest need avoid the more expensive consequences. Compared to $40 per day for supportive housing with services for a single adult in Washtenaw County, it costs:
The SYG Fund Has A Strong Foundation In The Washtenaw County Community
Above is an image of Sister Yvonne Gellise.
The Sister Yvonne Gellise Fund, an endowment fund of the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, was established with a $1 million gift from St. Joseph Mercy Health System (now Trinity Health) to mark St. Joseph Mercy Hospital's 100th anniversary. The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation matched the Health System's inaugural gift with another $1 million to help build the endowment.
The Fund honors Sister Yvonne Gellise, a founder and board member of the Washtenaw Housing Alliance (WHA) and a tireless advocate for the poor. Sister Yvonne first came to Ann Arbor in 1968 to become Chief Executive of St. Joseph Mercy Health System, where she has spent more than 40 years supporting St. Joe's healing mission.
To Learn More: FAQ | Case Statement | Timeline | Ambassador Program
SYG Fund Cabinet Members
2024
Alonzo Lewis Martin Delonis
Cheryl Elliott
Gina Katz
Sr. Yvonne Gellise
Norman Herbert, Chair
Dave Lutton
Mac Whitehouse, M.D.
Susan Wyman
Emeritus Cabinet
Garry Faja, In memoriam, 1947-2019
Bob Chapman
Todd Clark
Robert Guenzel
Bill Holmes
Joy Stair
GET INVOLVED
DONATE
One time contributions
Gifts can be made by credit card or check. To make your gift online, please use the secure AAACF website found here.
Checks can be made out to the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, with "Sister Yvonne Gellise Fund” indicated in the memo section, and mailed to:
Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation 301 N. Main Street, Suite 300 Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Planned gifts
Planned gifts establish a legacy and long-term connection to the mission. There are many options for planned giving. These options include:
Gifts of stock, appreciated assets, property
Life insurance beneficiary designation
Charitable gift annuities, providing fixed payments to you or others you name for life in exchange for your gift of cash or securities.
Bequests
To learn more about which option is right for you, please visit the easy-to-use planned giving information on the AAACF website.
BECOME AN AMBASSADOR
The Ambassador Program is designed to develop a group of individuals to have a deeper understanding of the SYG Fund, the importance of permanent supportive housing services, and a more broad context of the issue of homelessness in Washtenaw County. An Ambassador would be expected to:
Participate for 2 - 3 years
Attend 3 - 4 meetings annually
Identify opportunities to expand awareness of the SYG Fund through events and individual conversations
For more information, please contact Lauren Wisniewski (sygfund@gmail.com).