Guardian Angel Settlement Association (GASA) requested these funds to support the development of a new Social Services Center at 3300 South Jefferson in the Benton Park neighborhood. The property transformed from a blighted, unused building into a valuable and vibrant community resource. The new Center significantly expanded the capacity of GASA’s programming, resulting in an increase in the number of clients served from approximately 2,000 people per year currently to over 3,000 people per year. The 18,000 square foot building, formerly a Schnucks Market, and more recently a Hood’s Discount Home Center, sits on one acre of land with large parking lots located at both the north and south entrances of the building.