Letter from the President

2021-2022

Dear Friends,

To say this was a historic year for Laurel House would be an understatement.

As many of you know, we held our ribbon cutting ceremony for our new Safe Haven Center in June of 2022. This ceremony marked the completion of more than ten years of planning and two years of renovation!

I had the privilege of being there to emcee the event, participate in pictures and meet supporters and donors. But the fact is, there were countless others who saw this project through from the start. I just happened to be there at the culmination of a lot of hard work by staff, past and current board members, and the support of elected officials. The leadership of our Executive Director, Beth Sturman, was instrumental in bringing it all together.

What makes it real (drives it home) are the comments of Laurel House’s clients who say they feel safe there. Or the fact that ardent supporters of the project are awestruck or even teary eyed when they tour the facility. Laurel House will be able to serve more families with the new center, provide more counseling, and do so in a new, modern, safe environment. As of June 30, 2022, Laurel House has raised over 92% of the $3.5 million campaign goal. Thank you to all the donors, both individuals and organizations, that made this Capital Campaign a success!

Laurel House also continues the successful operation of our Thrift Stores, who also had banner, recordbreaking years. Both Marian’s Attic (King of Prussia) and Laurel’s Loft (Lansdale) were hugely successful thanks to the patronage of our supporters and community. These proceeds go directly to supporting the services and programs Laurel House offers.

Our satellite office and counseling facility, Nicole’s Place, moved to a more accessible location in Huntingdon Valley and continues to provide crucial information and services to Eastern Montgomery County. Thanks to the staff and volunteers that make this possible.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our first ever Virtual Gala. While we made the difficult decision to pivot from an in-person Gala to a Virtual Gala, it was a huge success. This success would not have been possible without the hard work of key staff and board members. Thank you to everyone who attended our 2022 Gala. We are looking forward to our in-person Gala in April 2023!

While we continue to face challenges, whether staffing, affordable housing, or the unknown, the management team and staff at Laurel House continues to impress in navigating the ever-changing environment. The support of our community stakeholders continues to be crucial to our success.

I would like to sincerely thank our staff of over 50 individuals. Without their dedication, Laurel House would not be the premier organization that it is today. I would also like to thank our volunteers, who total roughly 150, for the time they dedicate to supporting the mission.

And lastly, I’d like to again thank our supporters, donors, and advocates. Without you, we could not support the staff, programs, and services crucial to our clients.

Wishing everyone health and happiness,

Respectfully,

Brian Taylor

President of the Board