Bethlehem Inn event raises over $200,000

Bethlehem Inn announced Mondaythat over $200,000 was raised on Tuesday, May 10 at the sixth annualSpotlight on Homelessnessfundraising dinner. This record-breaking amount far surpasses donations received during prior years.

Gwenn Wysling, Executive Director, called the community’s show of support for the Inn’s program serving the region’s adults and children experiencing homelessness “deeply gratifying”, but was quick to add that year-long financial need is great for the Inn, which receives less than 10% of its funding from government sources.

Wysling also expressed sincere gratitude to The Collins Foundation, The Bend Foundation, and Bethlehem Inn Board of Directors for the $57,000 in challenge grants, which were offered to donors as a way to leverage their $1,000 contributions. “We are deeply thankful to these foundations and to our own Board of Directors, who recognize the level of financial support needed to serve over a thousand adults and children every year.”

320 guests attended the May 10 dinner at The Riverhouse Convention Center. Many said the evening’s highlight was hearing the stories of former residents, Yoninah Murphy and Jean Hernandez. Each spoke about their life before and after their stay at the Inn and how they, with help from the Inn staff and community resources, were able to change their lives.

Bethlehem Inntransforms lives with shelter, help and hopeby providing a warm bed, hot shower, 3 meals each day and support services for adults and families experiencing homelessness in Central Oregon. Each year the Inn provides shelter and support to over 1,100 individuals and serves 71,000 meals. To learn more about how you can be a part of Central Oregon’s solution to end homelessness, please call 541.322.8768 or visit bethleheminn.org . Donations may also be mailed to Bethlehem Inn, P.O. Box 8540, Bend, OR 97708.