Mark Stutrud, President and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Michigan(LSSM), is embarking on a new journey beginning October 1, 2014 as he transitions to President and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI). Both organizations are members of LSA. During his decade of service, LSSM has grown its foundation from $3.5M to $13.5M and the organization has grown its annual budget from $73M to $109M.
How does a Lutheran organization founded in 1868 remain true to its heritage while serving the needs of its current – and future – communities? From adoption and foster care to an alternative high school … to memory care and assisted living... to meals on wheels and disaster response services … to a program that acts as a clearinghouse for corporate donations and impacts over one million people a year – Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries is evocative of the great diversity we find within the Lutheran Services in America network. At its helm is a versatile leader, Mark Pile, who just celebrated his fifth anniversary as President and CEO of the organization. Last year, he tackled the sizable challenge of splitting Diakon into two divisions, each with its own Board of Directors – one to focus on senior services, and one for child, family and community programs. Read on to learn more about Mark’s approach to leadership and how he leads by example within our network.
Congratulations to LSA members who received the Wheat Ridge Ministries Burst Grants that were offered this spring exclusively within our network!
We are all impacted on some level by the current crisis concerning unaccompanied children crossing the border in unprecedented numbers. We know that, in addition to your other responsibilities of service, you have been seeking information to decide on how to respond to this crisis.
Lutheran Services in America issued the following statement in response to Congressman Paul Ryan's (R-WI) release of his "Expanding Opportunity in America" discussion draft: Lutheran Services in America (LSA) welcomes the contribution made by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) to our national dialogue about poverty and opportunity with the recent release of the “Expanding Opportunity in America” discussion draft.
A representative from LSA's member Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, Sheri Ekdom, testified at a hearing before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs on Sept 18, 2014, on the topic of consumer financial services protection. Sarah Meek, the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for LSA's Disability Network (LSA-DN) also attended the hearing and provided us with photos.
In late October, LSA sent letters to key House and Senate appropriators, urging them to pass a full Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) appropriations bill with funding levels sufficient for states, communities, and providers to maintain and expand affordable housing options that serve the most vulnerable, and to stimulate community revitalization.
On October 23, 2014 1,200 leading national, state, tribal, and local organizations wrote to Congressional leaders, asking them to provide continued funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Congress must stabilize CHIP funding this year so that states can continue to operate these programs without interruption.
Top leaders from several of the nation's largest humanitarian organizations and advocates announced a new collaboration today to fight the War on Poverty. Brought together by Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), leadership from Feeding America, Save the Children, The Salvation Army, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Lutheran Services in America, United Way and The Alliance for Children and Families all agreed to work together in 2014 to educate, innovate and act to reduce poverty in communities across the country.
Lutheran Services in America and several of our member organizations are featured in the latest issue (Fall 2013) of Nonprofit Digest: The Journal of Innovation for Nonprofit Leaders and Scholars. We invite you to read the article and learn more about LSA's strategic direction and the legacy and impact of Lutheran social ministry in the United States.
