In 2013, the co-founder of Tree Street Youth, Julia Sleeper-Whiting, learned that the building they’d been renting was being put on the market. Worried about the organization’s future, Julia reached out to banks to explore purchasing the building. Each told her that it wasn’t going to happen.
A few weeks later, Bill Floyd, Genesis Fund’s executive director at the time, visited Tree Street Youth. Julia said. “I’ll never forget the day. Our old building had very little airflow, and it was 90 degrees in there...We were both dripping sweat, surrounded by screaming kids and basketballs thudding against the wall, and he goes, “you’re going to own this in a year.’”
Bill was true to his word. With Genesis Fund’s help, Tree Street Youth purchased the building. In the years since, Genesis has provided Tree Street Youth with additional financing to help the organization grow and thrive, and continue to cultivate leaders who “fear less, love more, and dream big!”
Read the full story here and learn how you can participate in Genesis’ work to build a better Maine. As an individual or institution, you can invest in Maine communities by participating Genesis’ impact investing program. As an organization, Genesis may be able to help you better meet your mission through innovative financing.
