Several extraordinary non-profit organizations are housed in the historic former Ernest Flagg Rectory of St. Mark's Church In-the-Bowery. The church has consistently been surrounded by a mix of good people, determined to preserve this 1799 structure and all that it represents to those in the East Village and surrounding areas. Back in the late 1960's, community members created an organization called the Preservation Youth Project to address issues surrounding the changing environment in the neighborhood. The Project worked to provide a safety net for children by developing both a playground and a training program to help young people acquire the skills necessary for employment by involving them in projects in and around the church. After a devastating fire that nearly destroyed the church in the 1970's, another group came together to create what was ultimately known as the Landmark Fund. Today, this fund not only supports and maintains the church, but also continues work on the restoration of this historic building that houses all of these groups. In the 1980's yet another fire broke out at the church, this time bringing others together to form the Neighborhood Preservation Center. Those in this organization are committed to "aiding and encouraging citizen participation in the improvement of New York's diverse neighborhoods and cultural heritage." In addition to these three non-profits dedicated to St. Marks, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation also resides here. It is the perfect location for an organization that was founded in 1980 in the hopes of preserving the "architectural heritage and cultural history of the Village."