After 33 years of leadership, Ed Geffner retired as President & CEO of Project Renewal.

Trustees, government partners, and friends honored his remarkable leader-ship at a Tribute Party and at the annual Gala Benefit & Auction.

As a kid growing up in a four-room rent-controlled apartment in Brooklyn, Ed never imagined a career tackling is-sues related to home-lessness. After college his involvement with the civil rights and anti-war movements turned his interest in issues of social justice into a passion, and he decided to become a lawyer. By the time he finished law school, however, litigation had lost its appeal; he took a job at the Vera Institute of Justice, a criminal justice think tank. In 1977, Vera assigned him to one of its spin-off enterprises, Project Renewal (then, the Manhattan Bowery Corporation). “My driving passion was social justice, and certainly, people who were impoverished and on the streets are an extreme example of the lack of social justice in our society.”

It’s “the ability and freedom to be cre-

ative” that kept Ed at Project Renewal for more than three decades. What Proj-ect Renewal does best, in Ed’s view, “is focus on taking care of clients, and a lot of that is figuring out what their needs are and what kinds of services we should be providing to help them achieve independence and self-sufficiency. We created services with that in mind. We want the outcomes for clients to be the best they possibly can be. For example, let’s say we have someone come in for detox or into a shelter, we can provide them with medical care, psychiatry, ad-diction treatment, housing, job training and placement, and so on. We meet a great many of the needs of people who come to us for service.”

Ed thanks the extended Project Renewal family for a successful 33 years. “As much as I enjoy hearing everyone give me the credit for our success, I know very well that it’s not just me. It’s been my privilege to work with many caring people over the years who gave of their time and resources to build a support network for our clients – gov-ernment partners, private funders, board members, and donors like you. We have the same shared values – that no one deserves to live on the streets, everyone should have a safe place in the community and a chance to live a life of dignity.”

Ed enjoys speeches in honor of his lifetime of service

Welcome Mitchell NetburnThe Board of Trustees announces the selection of Mitchell Netburn as President & CEO of Project Renewal. A native New Yorker, Mitchell has over 20 years of public interest experience, most recently as Senior Vice President at F•E•G•S Health and Human Services System where he managed a performance-based welfare-to-work initiative serving 24,000 disabled clients annually. Prior to joining F•E•G•S, Mitchell served as the Executive Di-rector for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

“I have the utmost respect for Project Renewal’s unparalled passion and reputation for provid-ing inventive, high quality, and comprehensive services focused on ending homelessness for men and women,” says Mitchell. “I look forward to building on Project Re-newal’s great platform of housing, programs, and outreach.”

CEO Ed Geffner Retires

Linda Gibbs, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, shared a tribute to Ed and honored his vision for a city that can look after its most vulnerable citizens.

Board Chair Mary Lynn Putney with incoming CEO Mitchell Netburn.

mattersFall 2010

Health, Homes and Jobs for Homeless New Yorkers

2 Project Renewal matters | Fall 2010

Friends and Donors Boost Gala Revenue by 25% Over Prior YearOur 20th Annual Gala Benefit and Auction was a tremendous success! Gener-ous support from Trustees, individuals, and business partners raised $825,000, an increase of 25% over last year. Proceeds directly fund life-saving programs to help homeless men and women leave the streets and return to health, homes, and jobs.

Over 250 guests assembled on June 10 at the Waldorf=Astoria for a wonderful evening with touching tributes honoring Ed Geffner, President & CEO retiring after 33 years. Thunderous applause followed the exciting announcement that the Trustees will re-dedicate our supportive housing residence, Holland House, as Gef-fner House.

Our Silent Auction was filled with over 55 fabulous prizes, and Sotheby’s Execu-tive VP Hugh Hildesley inspired lively bidding in our Live Auction. We thank our auction donors and event supporters, and a special thanks to our corporate sponsor Capital One Bank for its generous sponsorship of the Gala since 2007.

Stay Informed with our E-Newsletter! To follow the impact of your finan-cial support of Project Renewal, sub-scribe to our monthly e-newsletter at www.projectrenewal.org. You’ll meet people like Joe Small (see story on the following page) whose lives are changed because of your support.

Gala Co-Chairs Shelly and Neil Mitchell. Neil is the incoming Board Chair.

Trustee Alan Belzer and Dr. Bradley Connor Trustee Colleen Cavanaugh (center) with Sue Waterbury (left) and James Rose (right).

Trustee Claudia Rosen (right) with Maria Cristina Ocampo (center) and Michelle Adelman (left).

Left to right, former Trustee Bob Davis with Ed Geffner and Trustee Earl Monroe.

Joe Small (at podium) honors Ed’s influence on his life following tributes by Coun-cil Member Robert Jackson and Vera Institute Director Herb Sturz (seated).

3Project Renewal matters | Fall 2010

Gala Keynote Speaker Joseph SmallProject Renewal employee Joe Small moved Gala guests in telling how Ed and Project Renewal helped him rebuild his life. When Joe came to the 3rd Street Shelter in 1993, he wasn’t ready to quit his drug habit. He had been in and out of jail so many times, his parole officer said obviously jail wasn’t a deterrent. It was the parole officer who dictated that Joe enroll in a treatment program, and so Joe found himself at our 3rd Street Shelter at age 42 with no plans, no goals, and no direction.

Soon after Joe arrived at 3rd Street, he attended a group meeting where a successful graduate came to speak about his recovery. Joe listened to this

man who was dressed in a suit and tie, and accompanied by his family when it slowly dawned on Joe – he knew this guy! The last time Joe saw him was on the streets when both were drug addicts. That’s when Joe said to himself – if he can change, so can I. Joe took full advantage of the programs at 3rd Street, working on recovery and planning his future. By the time he left, 11 months later, Joe had a job and a place to live.

Joe is now Head Custodian at Project Renewals’ Fort Washington Shelter and has been a valued employee for 17 years. He credits Project Renewal’s “full ser-vice” program for getting him back on his feet. “They provide everything and

will never give up on you.” But he saves his highest praise for Ed. “This city owes a lot to Ed. He brought down the crime rate just by taking drug addicts off the street and out of jails.” Ed has always impressed Joe as a caring person who embodies the Project Renewal philoso-phy that “there’s no situation you can’t overcome.”

Clinton Residence Celebrates 20 YearsTwenty years ago, no one knew what supportive housing was. No one really thought the most seriously mentally ill New Yorkers, people who’d only lived on the streets or in institutions, could live independently. But Project Re-newal’s Clinton Residence has proven everyone wrong. On June 18th Clinton Residence celebrated two decades of service with clients, staff, family, and friends. Guests assembled in the Com-munity Garden next door to the resi-dence for tributes from staff, residents, and neighbors.

The goal of the Clinton Residence is to link housing with services so residents learn to live more independent, healthy and fulfilling lives. Many have returned to work and are actively contributing to

their community. The cost to taxpayers - a small fraction of the typical public expense of keeping someone homeless, or in a hospital or shelter bed, or jail cell. And the local community has been strengthened, with rising property val-ues and neighbors who only have good things to say about those that live and work at the residence.

Twenty years on, the Clinton Resi-dence continues to change lives for the better as so eloquently put by Marie, a resident for the past year: “In a sur-rounding where staff sees about your needs; a chef that prepares sumptuous meals; a family atmosphere that greets you walking in the door; a psychiatrist that was able to get me off four medi-cations down to just one. That’s what Project Renewal Clinton Residence means to me.” Marie has successfully moved on to more independent living at our LeonaBlanche house.

The successes of the Clinton Residence over 20 years:

� 317 Residents have had a chance at recovery.

� 74% have been successfully housed from the residence into less supervised settings.

� Less than 3% have required a second chance at the residence.

� 70% of Residents are working, against all predictions and odds.

� The cost per year remains steady at $26,000 per Resident (that’s $15,000 less than the cost of living homeless on the street).

� 46% of staff has worked at the Clinton Residence for ten years or more. This type of retention rate is remarkable for the social service field.Former Clinton resident Marie Taylor thanks Jim Mutton,

Program Director, (on right), for the role that staff played in her recovery.

Joe Small

4 Project Renewal matters | Fall 2010

In addition to its financial support of the Gala and of our workforce devel-opment program, Capital One Bank also provided volunteer support. As part of a week of service to the com-munity, Capital One Bank employees volunteered at Clinton Residence. Six

volunteers broke out shovels, gloves, and pruning shears to bring life back to the roof garden at Clinton Residence. Clin-ton residents joined in the spring gar-dening as well. The result? A beautiful, flowering roof garden where residents can relax in the summer sun.

Board of TrusteesMary Lynn Putney

Chair

Neil S. MitchellVice Chair

Mitchell NetburnPresident & CEO

Alan BelzerRussell S. Berman

Suzanne Henry BoiesColleen CavanaughJames S. Davidson

Michael FieldAnthony S. Kendall

David J. KoeppelThe Hon. Richard B. Lowe, III

Earl MonroeMark H. Minter

Nan PerellChuck Pol

Geoffrey ProulxJules M. Ranz, MD

Paul H. RichClaudia Rosen

Carl RosoffLaura Rothschild

Marc L. Silverman, Esq.James W. Stevens

Caverly (Lee) StringerAntonio Tedesco

Junior BoardChristopher Bellapianta

Nicole BonicaVijay Desiraju

Scott DonohueThomas Evrard

John FlynnBrandl Frey

Jeffrey KirshenbaumRobin Lee

Colin MeagherKeenan ReillyDavid Rowley

Jenny SharfsteinNicholas Sklar

Christopher SmajdorAnna Valeo

Frederick Volp

200 Varick Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10014 212-620-0340

www.projectrenewal.org

Grand Central Winter is available for purchase in bookstores and on Amazon.

NEW EDITION OF

in bookstores now!Project Renewal Trustee Lee Stringer shares his Stories from the Street in an expanded 2nd edition just published by Seven Stories Press. Lee chronicles his years of homelessness and addiction as well as his

recovery at Project Renewal’s 3rd Street Shelter. This edition features four new chapters and a “startling new ending.”

Capital One Volunteers Plant Roof Top Garden

Capital One employees put on the green gloves

to help Jim Mutton (standing in back).

Help homeless men and women leave the streets for health, homes and jobs… with your donation. It’s safe, fast and on-line at www.projectrenewal.org.

Look for the “Donate Now” button on every page.

Grand Central Winter