Pine Street Inn Dedicates “Yawkey House”

Pine Street Inn, New England’s largest homeless services organization, dedicated its Women’s Inn shelter in Boston’s South End today, unveiling “Yawkey House” in recognition of the Yawkey Foundation’s transformational support. Leaders from both organizations, including Maureen H. Bleday, CEO and trustee of Yawkey Foundation, and Lyndia Downie, president and executive director of Pine Street Inn, celebrated the naming in a ceremony today, Jean Yawkey’s 115^th birthday.

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Pine Street Inn dedicated its Women’s Inn in Boston’s South End today by unveiling “Yawkey House” in recognition of the Yawkey Foundation’s transformational support. (L-R): Lorn Davis, Chair, Board of Directors, Pine Street Inn; Lyndia Downie, President and Executive Director, Pine Street Inn; Maureen H. Bleday, CEO and Trustee, Yawkey Foundation; Debra M. McNulty, Trustee, Yawkey Foundation; Reverend Dr. Ray Hammond, Trustee, Yawkey Foundation. (Photo: Business Wire)

The renaming of the Women’s Inn as Yawkey House is in recognition of a $15 million gift, the largest single commitment in Pine Street’s history, from the Yawkey Foundation in December 2021. The Foundation’s commitment to advancing Pine Street’s mission to end homelessness by making permanent housing a reality for the most vulnerable individuals, will considerably advance Pine Street’s vision of “a home and community for everyone.”

The gift is enabling Pine Street to create 400-500 new units of permanent housing over five years, an approximately 40% increase in its total units. The grant has already led to material improvements at the Women’s Inn, including the replacement of more than 300 deteriorating windows with new, energy-efficient windows that bring in additional natural light, and a renovation to the shelter lobby.

The Yawkey Foundation is a leading philanthropic organization and a valued partner to Pine Street. Its support spans more than 35 years and has included Foundation staff volunteerism.

Jean Yawkey began personally funding Pine Street Inn in 1988, with a special commitment to supporting the critical needs of women facing major life challenges. The Women’s Inn opened in 1980 to serve a growing number of women experiencing homelessness. Pine Street supports more than 1,300 women each year through its street outreach, shelter, workforce development and permanent supportive housing.

“We are deeply grateful to Jean and Tom Yawkey and to the Yawkey Foundation for their unwavering support and partnership. For over 35 years, they have stood by our side, ensuring that the most vulnerable individuals among us receive the support they need to move forward with their lives,” said Lyndia Downie, president and executive director of Pine Street Inn. “The Foundation’s recent transformational commitment is helping us significantly expand our permanent supportive housing. Naming this building Yawkey House reinforces the impact that the Yawkeys, especially Mrs. Yawkey, had on those who faced major challenges in their lives. What a fitting way to honor her on her birthday.”

“During their lifetimes, Jean and Tom Yawkey lived their charitable values by quietly helping individuals gain access to basic human needs: food, medical care, emergency shelter, and a home of one’s own,” said Maureen H. Bleday, Yawkey Foundation CEO and trustee. “Our trustees see this critical work happening every day with empathy, patience, kindness and expertise -- by Pine Street Inn’s heroic team offering direct services to Greater Boston’s most vulnerable individuals. Jean Yawkey was a champion for women, and we have no doubt that providing this beautifully renovated building, which provides hope, support and dignity - and having it named as ‘Yawkey House’ - would have been among her proudest, most humbling moments over a lifetime of philanthropy.”

About Pine Street Inn

Founded in 1969, Pine Street Inn is the largest homeless services provider in New England, offering a comprehensive range of services to more than 2,000 individuals each day, including permanent housing, workforce development, emergency shelter and street outreach. Our goal is to end homelessness by making permanent housing a reality for all, as we support people in moving off the streets, out of shelter, and into a permanent home, reaching their highest level of independence.

For more information on Pine Street Inn, go to www.pinestreetinn.org. Follow @PineStreetInn at Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About the Yawkey Foundation

The Yawkey Foundation is dedicated to perpetuating the philanthropic legacy of Tom and Jean Yawkey, whose eight decades of quiet generosity supported individuals and families in the communities that were closest to their hearts – Massachusetts and Georgetown County, South Carolina. Having awarded more than $550 million to date in charitable grants to organizations focused on Health Care, Education, Human Services, Youth and Amateur Athletics, Arts and Culture, and Conservation and Wildlife, Yawkey Foundation is committed to preserving and sustaining the charitable values of the Yawkeys by investing in impactful nonprofits providing resources, opportunity, and dignity to the vulnerable and underserved.

For more information, please visit www.yawkeyfoundation.org. Follow Yawkey Foundation on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

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