2009 helping people

Annual
R epor t help themselves

PPL 2009 Annual Report 1

 board of directors
2009 | 2010
Mohamed Alabari
letter from the executive director
Todd Aldrich
Patrick Aylward
*Linda Bryant
David Byfield
Uncertainty is the term that best sums up last year for me. I struggled through much of 2009 deciding how to vividly
Philip Campbell communicate to PPL stakeholders this feeling. Sometimes I described the old Roadrunner cartoon scene when Coyote
Stephen Caskey would run off a cliff chasing Roadrunner, realize his mistake, pedal wildly in mid-air in an attempt to stay up, only to
Michael Ducar
August Foreman plunge suddenly to the ground far below. Other times I related a scene from the movie “The Perfect Storm,” when the
J. Forrest captain of a fishing vessel sailing at the intersection of two hurricanes far out in the Atlantic catches a glimpse of calm
Lucy Gerold
John Grieman weather on the horizon, only to be submerged in the next instant by a monster wave.
*Catherine Gunsbury
John Hetterick In the end, thankfully, last year was not so dire. We made it back to land and reached calm seas! It was a challenging
Christine Hobrough time to be sure, although whatever organizational stresses we faced paled in comparison to the hurdles sour economic
James Howard
Earl Johnston conditions created for the families we worked with.
*Jay Kiedrowski
Peter Kiedrowski 2009 was a year for focusing on basics. For many, not losing ground represented great progress. We served almost 13,000
Karen Kraemer
people through an agency-wide insistence on generating the most effective use possible of resources the community
Richard Martens
Kim Matheson provided us. You’ll read more about what that means, and the results achieved, in this year’s report.
Damu McCoy
Neeraj Mehta In hard times long-standing trust relationships are more important than ever. PPL is very fortunate to have so many
Kenneth Nelson
*David Orbuch
partners and supporters who sustain our work, in good times and in times like these when offering help is not so easy.
Jonathan Palmer Many thanks.
Jerome Paquin
Beth Parkhill
Paul Parrish
Steve Cramer
*Debra Paterson
Jeffrey Peterson
Ronald Poole
Margaret Price
Mariana Quiroga
John Rasmussen
Laurie Rice
Walter Rockenstein
Rachel Nsubuga Sampong
*Jonathan Seltzer
Mary Jeanne Scott
Glen Skovolt
*Rose Vega-Shannon
Richard Voreis
Wesley Walker
Pamela Wandzel
*Candice Washington
Scott Wilensky
*retired in 2009

2 PPL 2009 Annual Report

2009 organization and program review
Overview
930
Housing units
Project for Pride in Living, Inc. (PPL) is a nonprofit our capacity to serve by making effective use of community
owned or organization dedicated to helping low-income individuals resources through deeper program integration, leveraging
managed. and families develop the tools they need to achieve volunteer expertise, building strategic partnerships,
self-sufficiency through a broad range of programs and focusing programs, increasing staff trainings and use of
services. We believe in empowering participants to be technology. By maximizing resources in our key focus

2,630
Adults received
accountable and responsible for their own growth toward
self-reliance. This reinforces our mission: PPL works with
areas of: Housing Stability, Economic Advancement, Family
Stability, and Youth Achievement, we were able to serve
family stability lower-income individuals and families to achieve greater nearly 13,000 people—a record number.
services.
self-sufficiency through housing, employment training,
PPL serves lower-income people who live throughout the
support services, and education. Since 1972, thousands
Twin Cities metropolitan area, with a concentration on the
959
Youth & children
of people from throughout the Twin Cities metro area
have built brighter, more stable futures and stronger
core neighborhoods of Minneapolis, St. Paul and several
suburbs (St. Louis Park, Robbinsdale, and New Hope).
benefited from communities as a result of PPL’s innovative, highly
schools & enrichment Our participants are racially diverse individuals and
integrated approach.
programs. families, including a growing number of immigrants.
In 2009, PPL witnessed substantial growth in the number
of participants seeking assistance. In response, we increased
PPL
progres
s

6,483
Received job
Highlights include
• Brought an additional 25 units of supportive housing to the community, helping those with multiple barriers to safe
support. and affordable housing, achieve housing stability.
• Federal stimulus funds helped people gain employable skills and get jobs, by supporting programs at the PPL Learning
Center and at PPL Industries.
• Increased technology for staff and participants. Self-Sufficiency Program staff, brought laptop computers into participants’
77,736
Number of hours
homes to teach basic internet navigation, job searching, and reviewing parent portals, among other activities.

contributed by • Our after-school programs for youth, increased children’s literacy skills and confidence in school. Moreover, we created
1,316 volunteers an environment where immigrant parents felt inspired to practice their English skills together while their children
last year. worked on homework with a tutor.
• Increased the number of highly-skilled volunteers by 30%, helping us meet community needs.

PPL 2009 Annual Report 3

 housing stability
Secure, healthy, welcoming­—all hallmarks of PPL’s affordable
housing. Whether rental housing or homeownership opportunities,
PPL’s affordable housing creates a solid foundation for individuals
and families.

In 2009, PPL opened Brook Commons, a sister building to

Charlotte Commons, which was completed in 2008. Located in
southeast Minneapolis, the buildings provide 85 new, affordable,
and service-enriched housing units for low-income families. PPL
and development partner Cabrini Partnership hosted a block party
to commemorate the opening of Brook Commons and the brand
new block established by the development. Residents, community
leaders, and supporters were all in attendance. The block party
created a festive and positive atmosphere, especially for the
youngest residents—with ice cream, balloons, and ribbon cutting.
Everyone had a good time and the event helped neighbors
establish a sense of community.

In 2009, PPL’s Lowell Curve development helped families realize

their dreams of homeownership. The 14 new, affordable homes in
PPL’s Lowell Curve development sold in 2009, positively affecting
the overall viability and stability of the Jordan neighborhood in
north Minneapolis. Lowell Curve is now home to families from
diverse backgrounds who have joined together to create a positive
neighborhood. Several families benefited from closing cost
assistance provided by PPL through a generous grant.
PPL’s Delancey Apartments and Selbystone Court were
renovated and remodeled in 2009. Located in the Summit-
University neighborhood of St. Paul, the goals of the capital
improvement project were to modernize the 37 units and to
create 13 supportive housing units. These units suit families
and individuals who have experienced long-term homelessness
and who have a mental health diagnosis. PPL has teamed with
“PPL has helped me Guild Incorporated to provide mental health services onsite for
make a 180 degree these residents. The renovation project significantly enhanced
PPL’s onsite youth and adult programs, resulting in expanded
turnaround.” community-building activities.
—PPL Crestview Resident
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One Call Keeps Home and Family Safe
The Mitchell family live on a limited income of $15,000
annually; Peter is a disabled veteran, his wife Merry has
Alzheimer ’s Disease. PPL’s Emergency Repair program serves
area low-income homeowners with repairs that jeopardize
their safety and well-being. Early Thanksgiving morning,
Peter’s water heater and boiler broke, flooding their basement
with water, creating a desperate situation. A member of
their church provided the family with temporary help over
the holiday weekend. On Monday, Peter connected with PPL’s
Emergency Repair program to remedy the difficult situation.
PPL’s small grant helped the family overcome the burdensome
repair expenses, enabling the Mitchell family to stay safe and
stable in their home.

4 PPL 2009 Annual Report

 economic advancement
PPL takes multiple approaches to help low-income people enter
the workforce and advance in their careers. Participants are
provided opportunities for job training both in the classroom and
on-the-job. Here are two highlights from the 2009 projects that
helped fuel our vision of economic advancement.

As a business with social benefits, PPL Industries provides

on-the-job training to adults with social and economic barriers,
and career development classes. PPL Industries focuses on
training those hardest to employ, people with criminal histories
eager to make positive changes in their lives.

Before “green” was “green,” 21-year-old PPL Industries provided

services to collect, disassemble, and recycle materials of all kinds.
Launched in 2009, its newest and most ambitious endeavor
is separating mattress parts for recycling in partnership with
Hennepin County and a host of other partners. The plan is to
expand this project to 40,000 mattresses a year, promoting both
on-the-job training and environmental sustainability.
The First Step Next Step program expanded PPL’s Employment
Training into St. Paul in 2009. Aimed at providing job seekers
interested in the healthcare industry a foot in the door, this
program was designed with input from an employer partner, a
number of referral agencies, and sponsor Employer Solutions.
First year results demonstrate the power of partnership, with
104 individuals trained and a 93% graduation rate. All First Step
Next Step graduates leave the program with significant skills and
ongoing job seach support, such as a letter of recommendation and
employer contacts, giving them a “step-up” on the competition.

P PLk
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Training Leads to Life Changes
Seth, a job training graduate, stopped by the PPL Learning Center to tell staff he had four job interviews
in the next week. He discussed with us how before PPL’s Employment Training he wasn’t getting interviews,
but now he feels confident and ready to get back to work.
“In a word, During his training, Seth was active in achieving his self-sufficiency goals. He found a new apartment, he started
‘valuable.’ ” a college savings fund for his daughter, received a perfect training attendance award, and used his training stipend
—PPL Employment Training Participant to purchase presents for his daughter’s birthday.
For Seth’s next step forward, he participated in PPL’s Digital Divide Initiative workshop to learn computer skills and
to receive his first home computer. He is a good reminder how far hard work and perseverance can take someone!

PPL 2009 Annual Report 5

 family stability
PPL provides programs and services to help individuals and
families set goals, increase skills, and have the support they need
to achieve self-sufficiency and family stability. Services offered
include life skills, financial and employment coaching, family
health and nutrition workshops, individualized referrals and
support, and much more. Through the Self-Sufficiency Program,
community-building activities, and Connections to Work, PPL
creates a safe, stable, and supportive environment from which
people and neighborhoods can thrive.
Self-Sufficiency Program staff members work onsite throughout
the Twin Cities to provide one-to-one direct services and broader
community engagement activities. In 2009, community-building
events brought over 1,140 residents together through activities
that ranged from community gardening, to weekly basketball
games that teamed kids with police officers in St. Louis Park,
to nutrition workshops. A highpoint was National Night Out.
Growing in popularity every year, in 2009 PPL residents in eight
metro area neighborhoods hosted National Night Out block
parties that encouraged residents to gather and socialize with one
another. These parties were huge successes that inspired future
community-driven events.
The digital divide can be a real life barrier for families and
individuals. At PPL, technology has become a key element for
helping participants advance their self-sufficiency goals.
In 2009, PPL increased the number of laptops available for
Self-Sufficiency Program staff. With laptop computers staff
sit with residents in their own homes, discuss and review action
plans, enter data, and teach basic internet functions like internet
searches for immigration information or checking on their child’s
school progress. Further, PPL’s mobile technology labs travel
onsite to community rooms in PPL housing where residents gain
digital literacy skills. With an increase in laptops, PPL staff
were able to provide the mobile labs to more residents and more
frequently in 2009. This is just one way that PPL is closing the
digital divide for low-income families.
PPL’s Connections to Work partners with Hennepin County to
help MFIP recipients further their employment goals and stabilize
their families. PPL’s program is specifically designed to assist
160 families who have at least one member diagnosed with a
disability. In 2009, PPL began to offer Connections to Work
families a wide array of educational workshops. The response was
great. Workshops on topics like Getting the Most: How to Budget,
Stress Management, and Cleaning with Care, which included green
cleaning supplies, were among the most popular. These workshops
brought sometimes isolated individuals together and motivated
them to create a support system with one other.

P PLk
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“PPL served as Connections Create New Path
the biggest support Ja’Na points with pride to the work she did while helping build Target Field as an apprentice at a local sign
company. She and her three children are participants in Connections to Work at PPL. Her five-year-old son Tyler
system that I
is a big baseball fan, he listened attentively when his Mom pointed to the big number “42” sign hanging in the
could have ever left field corner and told the story of American hero Jackie Robinson. At 22, Ja’Na is a dedicated Mom committed
asked for.” to providing her kids a nurturing and supportive home. Connecting with PPL has helped her start a new path for
—Connections to Work Participant herself and her family. With encouragement and support from PPL staff she is now enrolled in college to improve
her future employment options.

6 PPL 2009 Annual Report

 youth achievement
PPL youth development and education programs are designed
to help low-income youth succeed in school and in life.
Our programs and schools support learning, and academic
and personal achievement for pre-school age through high
school youth. These are just a few Youth Achievement highlights
from 2009.

PPL’s Roots ‘n Reading program is a hit with children and

parents in our St. Paul buildings. In 2009, Roots ‘n Reading
served over 35 youth and adult residents, and received over
700 hours of assistance from 30 community volunteers. Kids
get plenty dirty in gardening projects, but also learn about
nutrition, the environment, recycling, ecosystems, and
community beautification. These lessons teach children
responsibility, and help develop critical thinking skills and
self-confidence. Roots ‘n Reading’s strong literacy emphasis
“grows” both reading skills and positive relationships by
connecting youth with adult volunteer mentors.

Environmentalism and sustainability are strong themes at PPL’s P PLk

Loring Nicollet Alternative School, where they keep a worm
compost bin in the kitchen. In Urban Ecology and other science
courses, high school students learned about permaculture, global
warming and ways to positively impact the environment that
encourage an interest in science and our planet. In a 2009 botany
class, students grew vegetables and herbs in a community garden,
which were later harvested and made into salsa by students
attending summer school.
“My Homework ‘n’ Hoops’
PPL’s SEED Camp keeps learning fun all summer long. In 2009,
mentors have SEED Camp offered a book club for the first time, with
shown me that I participants reading Tom Sawyer, The Diary of Anne Frank and
the first Harry Potter book. The book club proved very popular
can be better than
with students, and staff members found the discussions about
I ever thought.” the chosen books to be spirited and more substantive than
anticipated. SEED Camp’s academic and enrichment activities
—PPL Homework ‘n’ Hoops Participant teach children important lessons in critical thinking,
team-building, and self-assurance—important steps toward
self-sufficiency.
at wor
PPL Tutor/Mentor Program Helps Student Shine
Jasmin lives in PPL’s Collaborative Village. She is in the sixth
grade and is finishing her third year as a participant in PPL’s
College House program. The first year at College House focused
almost exclusively on social skills, as Jasmin’s trust level with
adults was very low. Since then, Jasmin has gained 3.5 grade
levels in reading and has been on honor roll several times.
“What inspires me the most is how much my Mom and my family
love and care for me. My Mom encourages me to get good grades
so I can go to college. I know I can do it because I believe in
myself and my family supports me.” Jasmin is determined to
go to college, and is considering interior design, medicine, or
law. She likes the College House because she says it is nice to
have a good friend who lives nearby who can also help with her
schoolwork.

PPL 2009 Annual Report 7

 2009 financial summary
2009 was a challenging year as a result of the severe economic
recession. We are very grateful to the many organizations,
foundations, and individuals who continued to maintain their
generous support. Through this support PPL was able to continue
its work in helping people achieve greater self-sufficiency
through Housing Stability, Economic Advancement, Family
Stability, and Youth Achievement.
PPL’s financial position remains very strong with approximately
$8 million in cash assets and Net Assets of $10.2 million. Earned
income revenue of approximately $9.8 million was generated from
affordable housing rental properties, the development of new
properties, the PPL SHOP (now Furnish Office & Home) and PPL
Industries.
The contribution to Net Assets for 2009 was a negative $2.5
million attributed in large part to non-cash charges of $1.2
million in depreciation on PPL properties and downward
market adjustments of $870,000 on property held for sale
and development. However, cash balances improved over the
year by $43,000.
PPL’s 2009 audited financials will be available in late June and
Form 990 will be available later summer 2010; both are available
upon request or visit: www.ppl-inc.org.
Please note: These comments reference PPL’s financial statements before the
inclusion of housing partnerships where PPL is the general partner but holds
a minority interest.

“Now my nurses
can navigate
the computer on
the job!”
—PPL Employer Partner

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PPL Partnerships
PPL has a long history of connecting to community partners to help further our programs and services,
and ultimately to increase participants’ successes. More than 275 businesses, nonprofits, and governmental
agencies act as partners in our activities.

8 PPL 2009 Annual Report

 financial statement
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position Consolidated Statement of Activities and Changes in Net Assets
without partnerships with partnerships without partnerships with partnerships
2009 2009 2009 2009
ASSETS REVENUES AND SUPPORT
Cash & Cash Equivalents $ 8,092,046 $ 14,158,014 Grants and Contributions $ 7,968,874 $ 8,068,293
Marketable Securities 259,404 259,404 Revenues 9,790,801 14,261,373
Interest and Income on Investments 246,715 290,793
Receivables 3,093,137 1,524,694
Inventory 151,235 151,235 Total Revenues and Support $ 18,006,390 $ 22,620,459
Prepaid Expenses 237,239 288,673
Property Under Development 7,781,951 7,781,951 EXPENSES
Other Assets 749,508 1,103,460 Program and Services
Affordable Housing $ 12, 243,814 $ 19,780,780
Total Current Assets $ 20,364,520 $ 25,267,431
Employment and Job Training 3,152,934 3,152,934
Support Services 2,098,105 2,098,105
Property and Equipment 30,092,295 112,220,539 Education 1,446,628 1,446,628
Less: Accumulated Depreciation (7,752,130) (24,052,603) Supporting Activities
Net Property and Equipment $ 22,340,165 $ 88,167,936 General and Administrative 1,484,646 1,484,646
Fundraising 581,195 581,195
Total Assets $ 42,704,685 $ 113,435,367 Total Expenses $ 21,007,322 $ 28,544,288

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Gain on Debt Forgiveness
Net of Property Valuation Changes
Notes and Mortgages Receivable $ 28,332,877 $ 66,349,957
and Other Gains 494,740 3,954,030
Accounts Payable 223,853 391,021
Accrued Expenses 2,218,548 7,349,396 Change in Net Assets $ (2,506,192) $ (1,969,799)
Escrows and Deposits 160,266 405,748
Deferred Revenues 1,527,190 1,566,711
Total Liabilities $ 32,462,734 $ 76,062,833

NET ASSETS 10,241,951 37,372,534

Total Liabilities and Net Assets $ 42,704,685 $ 113,435,367

PPL 2009 Annual Report 9

 Project for Pride in Living Non-Profit Org
U.S. Postage
1035 Franklin Avenue East
PAID
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404 Permit No. 530
Minneapolis, MN

PPL meets the Charities Review Council’s

standards and is a Greater Twin Cities
United Way funded agency.

20 PPL 2009 Annual Report