GOOD NEWS! 123 Catholic schools, and 19 individuals, corporations and foundations, raised $652,000 for the Key Player Initiative from August 2007 through June 2011, moving 326 St. Patrick Center clients from homelessness to housing!

The Key Player Initiative is a community-wide effort that raises needed resources for permanent, supportive housing. Launched by St. Patrick Center and Catholic Charities in August 2007 as an aggressive, new housing initiative, the Key Player Initiative makes Key Players catalysts in leading St. Patrick Center clients to independence and self-sufficiency.

The goal of the Key Player Initiative is to raise one million Housing Program dollars annually. Money raised pays for rent, utilities, Livings Skills classes, case work and program costs. At just $2000 per client, one million dollars raised annually will end homelessness for 500 individuals and families each year.

“Housing is the first and most important component to stability,” says St. Patrick Center Chief Development Officer Jan Rasmussen. “In order for us to continue to implement this best practice Housing First model, we are recruiting key community players to help us provide safe, dignified housing for individuals and families.”

view our Key Player fact sheet

The Key Player Initiative was met with immediate success when it began! Kellwood Foundation took the corporate lead and made a 5-year corporate commitment, with a financial contribution totaling $195,000. And Archdiocese of St. Louis Catholic Schools took the lead when elementary schools and high schools committed to raise $100,000. Catholic School students announced in an April 2008 news conference that they raised $221,000!

read more about our Key Player news conference

The Key Player Initiative is a unique way to engage youth in philanthropy. In November 2008, the St. Louis chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals awarded the Key Player Initiative its Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy award.

read more about the Key Player award

St. Patrick Center recruits Key Players from corporations, foundations, parishes, churches, schools, and social and trade organizations. Key Players are encouraged to use their creative resources to organize a variety of fundraisers.

view a list of current Key Players
view a list of creative Key Player fundraisers

If you would like to be a Key Player, a team captain for a Key Player group, or help solicit Key Players, contact Katie Joseph at 314.802.1976 or kjoseph@stpatrickcenter.org.

THE MISSION: The Key Player Initiative is a community-wide effort of Catholic Charities and St. Patrick Center to bring hope and opportunity to persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. By raising money for permanent, supportive housing, Key Players in the community help build permanent, positive changes in the lives of individuals and families in need.