The 10th annual Wayzata 5K Walk/Run is May 9, 2009. As always, the scenic course winds down Lake Street and past the Depot, with lots of fantastic food at the finish. Lindblom Jewelers is again the sponsor, and the National Honor Society students from WHS have taken the lead in coordinating the event. Advance registration (before April 24) is $15 and $20 the day of the race. Runners check in and pick up their t-shirt at the Bay Center starting at 8 a.m.; race begins at IOCP at 9 a.m.
This year, the spring Community Prayer Breakfast will feature its youngest-ever guest speaker. James Laurinaitis, Ohio State All-American and former Wayzata Trojan All-State Linebacker, will be talking about “Growing in Christ”. Laurinaitis is likely headed for a professional NFL career. We hope you can attend the breakfast on Friday, April 17, 2009, 7–8:30 a.m., Wayzata Community Church. $15 adults; $10 students. Tickets available at the Foursome, Bob’s Shoe Repair, IOCP, and area churches.
In a recent update from Lenore Franzen, Peter Larson, the dedicated individual committed to raising funds for the IOCP Sleep Out, has made significant strides towards his goal.
Despite facing challenges during a recent fundraising event at local restaurant Punch Pizza, where he managed to collect $3,100, slightly less than the previous year due to adverse weather conditions, Larson’s efforts have not gone unnoticed.
A recent anonymous donation has propelled Peter Larson’s total fundraising amount to an impressive $50,000.
Franzen shared this exciting news, highlighting Larson’s commitment to making a difference in the IOCP Sleep Out campaign.
Included in the update is a recent photograph of Peter Larson, providing a visual representation of the determined fundraiser.
Lenore Franzen also reported that the overall fundraising total for the IOCP Sleep Out campaign has reached an admirable $1,060,000.
This substantial amount is expected to support 498 families facing housing needs in the upcoming year.
The IOCP is actively encouraging continued support, as donations will be accepted through January 31.
Franzen urged individuals to consider including the IOCP in their year-end giving decisions to contribute to the organization’s ongoing efforts in assisting families with housing needs.
In a recent update, Lenore Franzen, Communications Director for Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP), announced that the IOCP Sleep Out has successfully raised an impressive $1 million.
This substantial amount will enable the organization to provide assistance to 470 families in the upcoming year. As the campaign enters its final days, the community’s support remains crucial.
Established in 1979, Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP) has been dedicated to strengthening the eight communities it serves by creating transformative opportunities.
Through innovative partnerships and volunteer engagement, IOCP aims to instill hope in struggling families within the community.
With a focus on housing, child care, transportation, employment, and community connections, IOCP’s initiatives impact over 1,500 families and individuals annually.
By offering choices in these vital areas, such as affordable housing, improved employment opportunities, quality child care, and a sense of belonging, IOCP empowers families to progress towards building a better life.
The organization actively involves over 600 volunteers, ranging from children to CEOs, in various structured opportunities.
Volunteers contribute to IOCP’s diverse initiatives, including operating the food shelf, managing the reception desk, arranging transportation to essential appointments, hosting community dinners, mentoring students, participating in awareness-raising sleep-outs for affordable housing, promoting the car donation program, and coordinating the collection and distribution of school supplies and holiday gifts.
As the IOCP Sleep Out campaign nears its end, the community is urged to continue its support to further amplify the positive impact on families in need.
The organization remains dedicated to its mission of creating lasting change through collaborative efforts and community engagement.
In the seven years Peter Larson has participated in the Sleep Out campaign by Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP), he has accumulated various nicknames, such as the “Sleep Out prince” for successfully raising $50,000.
He is also known as the “brave Boy Scout” who spent 43 nights sleeping in a cardboard box and has been honored with the Eleven Who Care award for his outstanding contributions.
Inspired by Bob Fisher, Larson is a pizza-loving individual on a mission to help families maintain their homes.
“This year, I want to help 125 families avoid homelessness,” stated Larson, expressing his commitment to sleep out every night of the campaign to raise awareness and funds.
To achieve his personal fundraising target, he aims to collect $71,125.
Adding significant support to Larson’s noble cause is Punch Pizza in downtown Wayzata.
On Sunday, December 14, from 5 to 9 p.m., community members are invited to join Peter and his friends for a delightful evening at Punch Pizza, one of Wayzata’s many restaurants.
During this time, Punch Pizza has pledged to contribute 50% of its proceeds for the entire day towards Peter’s goal.
Additionally, a tip jar will be available to accept further donations. Peter’s Boy Scout troop will actively participate by helping serve and staff the event, demonstrating a collaborative community effort in support of Larson’s mission.
The IOCP expresses gratitude to John Puckett, the owner of Punch Pizza, for being a major supporter of Peter Larson’s commendable endeavors.
The upcoming event not only promises delicious pizza but also serves as an opportunity for the community to rally behind a cause that aims to make a meaningful difference in the lives of families facing the threat of homelessness.
The Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP) Sleep Out campaign has successfully raised $795,000, providing a lifeline for 373 families in the upcoming year.
As of now, there are 13 days remaining in the fundraising campaign.
Established in 1979, IOCP is dedicated to fortifying the eight communities it serves by creating transformative opportunities that positively impact lives.
The organization’s mission revolves around offering hope to struggling families through innovative partnerships and active volunteer engagement.
Annually assisting over 1,500 families and individuals, IOCP focuses on providing opportunities in critical areas such as housing, child care, transportation, employment, and community connections.
By empowering families with choices in these domains, including affordable housing, improved job prospects, quality child care, reliable transportation, and a sense of belonging, IOCP facilitates the journey towards building a better life.
IOCP actively involves a network of more than 600 volunteers, spanning a diverse range from children to CEOs, who engage in structured opportunities to support the community.
Volunteer activities include operating the food shelf, staffing the reception desk, arranging transportation for essential appointments, hosting community dinners, mentoring students, participating in sleep-outs to raise awareness and funds for affordable housing, promoting the car donation program, and coordinating the collection and distribution of school supplies and holiday gifts.
The IOCP Sleep Out campaign’s success underscores the community’s commitment to addressing the housing needs of families, and the organization remains grateful for the ongoing support received.
As the campaign enters its final days, IOCP encourages continued participation to further enhance their ability to make a positive impact on families in need.
Wayzata’s beloved local celebrity and skilled shoe repairman, Bob Fisher, recently made a notable appearance on KSTP.com’s Eyewitness News.
The segment, aired on 11/21/2008, featured an interview conducted by Leah Mclean, where Bob passionately described the community’s dedicated efforts in support of the Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP) Sleep Out.
During the interview, Bob Fisher shed light on the local initiatives contributing to the Sleep Out, emphasizing the collective commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of Metro’s homeless population.
The segment captures the essence of Wayzata’s community spirit and its proactive engagement in addressing social challenges.
Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP) embarks on its 13th annual Sleep Out Campaign, aiming to raise awareness and funds for the pressing issue of affordable housing in the communities it serves.
Against the backdrop of a financial crisis and escalating foreclosure rates in the suburbs, families supported by IOCP are grappling with unprecedented housing challenges.
LaDonna Hoy, IOCP’s executive director, stresses the urgency of the situation, stating, “To fully meet the basic housing needs of the people we serve, we need to raise $2 million.”
The primary goal is to respond to the requests of over 900 families in the coming year.
The Sleep Out Campaign, running from November 15 to December 23, represents a crucial initiative for IOCP.
Funds raised during the Sleep Out constitute IOCP’s entire housing budget for the year, comprising 42 percent of the organization’s total annual budget.
These funds play a pivotal role in addressing emergency housing needs for low-income families and individuals, as well as supporting affordable housing developments.
Approximately 58 percent of families receiving IOCP’s housing services require assistance for one to two months to stabilize their situations.
The theme for this year’s Sleep Out, “The Community That Can,” reflects the organization’s belief in the community’s capacity to respond effectively.
Hoy emphasizes, “This community has the means, the heart, and the will to rise to the challenge, as it does every year.”
Increased Need and Current Challenges
IOCP clients face four critical issues contributing to the heightened need for housing assistance:
Income Disparity: The rising cost of living has outstripped the incomes of the families IOCP serves. Despite the metro area’s median income for a family of four being $80,900, 85 percent of IOCP families earn less than half that amount – $40,450 or less.
Foreclosure Rates: The western suburbs have witnessed an alarming increase in foreclosures. In the past year alone, 218 homes were foreclosed in IOCP’s service area, with specific numbers in Plymouth, Orono, Wayzata, Medina, Long Lake, and Hamel.
Affordable Housing Shortage: The demand for affordable housing far exceeds the supply. According to Metropolitan Council projections, the IOCP service area needs 1,829 affordable housing units by 2020, yet none are currently under construction.
Homelessness Surge: The foreclosure crisis and economic challenges have led to a rapid increase in homelessness. Since March 2008, there has been nearly a 25 percent rise in the number of families staying in homeless shelters in Hennepin County.
Sleep Out Events and Initiatives
The Sleep Out Campaign kicks off with a communitywide event on Saturday, November 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Klapprich Park in Wayzata.
The event features emcee Mike Pomeranz from Kare 11, speakers including LaDonna Hoy, Sleep Out founder Bob Fisher, and U.S. Representative Jim Ramstad. Community members are encouraged to gather pledges and participate in a sleep out at the park following the Kickoff.
General Mills and Cargill will host their 2nd annual sleep outs on November 21, with locations at Klapprich Park and Cargill’s Wayzata headquarters, respectively.
Former Minnesota Twins star Corey Koskie and Sleep Out founder Bob Fisher are organizing a “sleep in” at the Wayzata Bay Center on November 22, inviting participants to gather pledges and join them in sleeping in cars, with a fundraising goal of $56,900.
On December 11 at 6 p.m., families who have benefited from IOCP’s long-term housing initiatives will host an appreciation gathering at the first IOCP-sponsored home on 325 Barry Ave., Wayzata.
Sleep Out History and IOCP Background
The Sleep Out Campaign originated in 1996 when Wayzata shoe repairman Bob Fisher slept outside in a tent to raise money for Thanksgiving dinners.
Over the years, it evolved into an annual campaign dedicated to addressing housing needs. In the 12-year history of the Sleep Out, about 3,200 community members, including businesses, churches, youth, and civic groups, have raised over $9 million to support IOCP’s housing services.
Established in 1979, IOCP is a community-based outreach organization serving struggling families and individuals in Hamel, Long Lake, Medicine Lake, Medina, Minnetonka Beach, Orono, Plymouth, and Wayzata.
The organization’s mission is to identify and respond to the basic unmet needs of the community, fostering self-sufficiency through collaborative partnerships across various sectors.
As the Sleep Out Campaign unfolds, IOCP remains committed to addressing the housing crisis and fostering a community-driven response to create lasting solutions for those in need.
The 13th annual IOCP Sleep Out Kick Off Celebration was held Saturday night, November 15th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Klapprich Park. The goal this year is for $2 million to help raise funds to address the emergency housing needs and pursue affordable housing developments in the local community.
KARE 11 Anchor Mike Pomeranz was the master of ceremonies, with notable appearances by Corey Koskie, Bob Fisher, LaDonnaHoy, Peter Larson, Mayor Andrew Humphrey, Sonny Clark and Dave Dudinsky.
Koskie told his story about his brain injury and not being able to work, and how that relates to those in need of IOCP’s assistance. Fisher touted the Stars in Cars program in which he and Koskie plan to sleep in their cars next Saturday night to raise funds.
LaDonnaHoy addressed the dire need to raise funds for those in our community, and 14 year old Peter Larson talked about his plans to raise $71,000 during his sleep-out efforts. Mayor Humphrey declared it “Sleep Out Day” in the City of Wayzata, and Sonny Clark and Dave Dundinskyreceived awards of appreciation for their service to IOCP through the City of Wayzata.
Funds raised as of Sunday were at $300,000 according to the sign in front of Anchor Bank keeping the tally.
a2a_linkname=”Wayzata.com”;a2a_linkurl=”http://www.wayzata.com”;
You must be logged in to post a comment.