Yvonne Fund
The Sister Yvonne Gellise Fund for Permanent Supportive Housing Services. Endow Today. Empower Forever.
Our Mission
The Sister Yvonne Gellise Endowment Fund for Permanent Supportive Housing Services (Yvonne Fund) was established to create lasting, systemic solutions to homelessness in Washtenaw County. The endowment fund focuses on developing an infrastructure of permanent supportive housing services to sustain housing for the most under-resourced members of our community, in partnership with federal, county, and community efforts.
“The best way to end homelessness is to prevent homelessness by identifying and working to eliminate its root causes. Our community is blessed to have the capacity to generate an abundance of resources that can, with willingness and compassion, be invested in this common cause. ”
Our Impact
$1,679,115 Granted Out to Date
2026 Grant Distributions = $325,614
Above are the five (5) permanent supportive service providers who received grant awards from the Yvonne Fund in 2026.
National and local studies have shown that permanent supportive housing — housing combined with services to meet the specific needs of those who experience sustained or frequent homelessness — yields positive outcomes compared to programs that provide only shelter.
Permanent supportive housing works because it helps people address the underlying issues they face while staying housed.
National Positive Outcomes Include:
Providing supportive housing services is also cost effective, helping people with the greatest need avoid the more expensive consequences. Compared to $59 per day for supportive housing with services for a single adult in Washtenaw County, it costs:
To Learn More: FAQ | Case Statement | Timeline
Our History
Image of Sister Yvonne Gellise. She has short grey hair and is wearing a black blazer with glasses.
The Yvonne Fund Has A Strong Foundation In The Washtenaw County Community
The Yvonne Fund, an endowment fund of the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, was established with a $1 million gift from St. Joseph Mercy Health System (now Trinity Health) to mark St. Joseph Mercy Hospital's 100th anniversary. The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation matched the Health System's inaugural gift with another $1 million to help build the endowment.
The Fund honors Sister Yvonne Gellise, a founder and board member of the Washtenaw Housing Alliance (WHA) and a tireless advocate for the poor. Sister Yvonne first came to Ann Arbor in 1968 to become Chief Executive of St. Joseph Mercy Health System, where she has spent more than 40 years supporting St. Joe's healing mission.
Our Team
2026 Cabinet Members
Norman Herbert, Chair
Sr. Yvonne Gellise
Dave Lutton
Martin Delonis
Gina Katz
Sheila Marcus, M.D.
Susan Wyman
Cheryl Elliott
Alonzo Lewis
Mac Whitehouse, M.D.
Emeritus Cabinet
Garry Faja, In memoriam, 1947-2019
Bob Chapman
Todd Clark
Robert Guenzel, In memoriam, 1941-2026
Bill Holmes
Joy Stair
2026 Ambassadors
Rich Chang
Yodit Mesfin-Johnson
Senator Jeff Irwin
Hank Peyser
Chuck Warpehoski
Christina Kim
Lacey Sapkiewicz
Emeritus Ambassador
Catherine McClary, In memoriam, 1952-2024
Become an Ambassador
The Ambassador Program is designed to develop a group of individuals to have a deeper understanding of the Yvonne Fund, the importance of permanent supportive housing services, and a more broad context of the issue of homelessness in Washtenaw County.
For more information, please contact our Development Director at yvonnefund@whalliance.org.
Our Staff
Madeline Garcia, Yvonne Fund Development Director
Amanda Carlisle, Washtenaw Housing Alliance (WHA) Executive Director
Donate to the Yvonne Fund
One-time contributions
Gifts can be made by credit card or check. To make your gift online, please use the secure AAACF website found here.
Checks can be made out to the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, with "Yvonne Fund” indicated in the memo section, and mailed to:
Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation
301 N. Main Street, Suite 300
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Planned gifts
Planned gifts establish a legacy and long-term connection to the mission. There are many options for planned giving. These options include:
Gifts of stock, appreciated assets, property
Life insurance beneficiary designation
Charitable gift annuities, providing fixed payments to you or others you name for life in exchange for your gift of cash or securities.
Bequests
Click here for our Planned Giving Form. Planned gifts go through the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. To learn more about which option is right for you, please visit the easy-to-use planned giving information on the AAACF website and links below.