Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative To Receive the Archibald Bush Legacy Grant

This one-time $200,000 grant goes to Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative for the organization's embodiment of Archibald Bush's legacy and commitment to Saint Paul

SAINT PAUL, MN - November 11, 2014 - The Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation and the Bush Foundation are pleased to announce Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative as the recipient of the Archibald Bush Legacy Grant.

The Archibald Bush Legacy Grant is a one-time grant of $200,000 to support a nonprofit organization that embodies Archibald Bush's legacy of working to strengthen the civic, social and cultural vitality of Saint Paul. Eighty nominations for a total of forty-eight nonprofit organizations were received in September. Mayor Chris Coleman read all the nominations and selected five finalists, and the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation chose the grant recipient.

"We're delighted to award the Archibald Bush Legacy Grant to Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, an organization doing tremendous work in Saint Paul," said David Odahowski, President of the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation.

Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative will use the Archibald Bush Legacy grant as "keystone" funding for the opening of Prior Crossing, a new housing development located on the Metro Transit Green Line that will offer homes and services for 44 youth ages 18 to 21. When it opens, Prior Crossing will be the largest supportive youth housing development in Ramsey County.

Archie Bush and his wife Edyth established the Bush Foundation in 1953. Following Archie's death, Edyth Bush moved to Winter Park, Florida where she established the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation. In honor of Archie's love for and commitment to the city of Saint Paul, the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation pledged $100,000 to support a nonprofit organization that best exemplifies the legacy of Archibald Bush and his commitment to Saint Paul. The Bush Foundation decided to match the contribution. Taken together, these gifts will fund the one-time grant of $200,000.

In addition to awarding the Legacy Grant to Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, the Bush Foundation is pleased to announce grants of $20,000 to each of the finalists for their commitment to Archibald Bush's legacy. The finalists include: Cycles for Change, Penumbra Theatre Company, Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services.

"Archie Bush would be pleased to know that his investments are going to deserving Saint Paul nonprofits," said Jen Ford Reedy, president of the Bush Foundation.

To learn more about the Archibald Bush Legacy Grant and the legacy of Archibald Bush, visit: http://bfdn.org/legacy

About the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation

The Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation was created to grant funding to qualified, non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for the people of Central Florida. The Foundation helps create innovative civic solutions that help people help themselves.

About the Bush Foundation

At the Bush Foundation we invest in great ideas and the people who power them. We encourage individuals and organizations to think bigger and think differently about what is possible in communities across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations that share the same geographic area. The Foundation was established in 1953 by 3M executive Archibald Bush and his wife, Edyth. Inspired by the Bushes' desire to build their community and encourage innovation, the Foundation has made over one billion dollars in grants to thousands of organizations and individuals.