EXTRA WISH. A Guide for Donors. Fall 2014

Transcription

1 An EXTRA WISH A Guide for Donors Fall 2014

2 An Extra Wish Table of Contents To be eligible to apply for An Extra Wish, organizations must have been reviewed through a formal, competitive grant program at The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta in the last four years (Common Good Fund, Arts Fund, local funds, AIDS Fund, Grants to Green and Neighborhood Fund). An Extra Wish covers the costs of essential items that would contribute to the success of an organization, but have been set aside because of more pressing needs. The Foundation s program staff and Board have reviewed each request. If you would like to grant An Extra Wish, please contact your philanthropic advisor. Should you decide to respond through means other than your fund at the Foundation, please let us know so we can track wishes as they are fulfilled. Thank you for your charitable service to metro Atlanta and if you have questions or want additional information about these requests, please call us: Rob Smulian Vice President Philanthropic Services rsmulian@cfgreateratlanta.org Erin Boorn Senior Philanthropic Advisor eboorn@cfgreateratlanta.org Angela Hunter Philanthropic Services Associate ahunter@cfgreateratlanta.org Audrey Jacobs The Center for Family Philanthropy ajacobs@cfgreateratlanta.org Barrett Krise Senior Philanthropic Advisor bkrise@cfgreateratlanta.org Staci Lynch Philanthropic Advisor slynch@cfgreateratlanta.org Kathleen Wagner Philanthropic Advisor kwagner@cfgreateratlanta.org The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta connects donors, nonprofits and community leaders to strengthen the Atlanta region through philanthropy. The Foundation works directly with donors and their families to educate them about issues in the community and to support their personal philanthropic goals. Through quality service to our donors and innovative leadership on community issues, we improve the quality of life for residents in our 23-county region. Founded in 1951, today we are one of the largest community foundations in the country. In 2013, we worked with donors and several supporting organizations to grant $134 million to the greater Atlanta community and beyond. The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, 50 Hurt Plaza, Suite 449, Atlanta, GA 30303, P: , F: Organization Page 24/7 Gateway, LLC...2 Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency...3 Arts Clayton, Inc....4 ART Station Contemporary Arts Center and Theatre...5 Atlanta Community ToolBank...6 Atlanta Lyric Theatre...7 Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation...8 Aurora Theatre, Inc....9 Ben Franklin Academy CARES, Inc The Center for Children & Young Adults Center for Puppetry Arts, Inc Center for the Visually Impaired City of Refuge, Inc CURE Childhood Cancer Elachee Nature Science Center The Elaine Clark Center Families First, Inc Fernbank Museum of Natural History Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy Forsyth County Family Haven, Inc Girls Incorporated of Greater Atlanta Habitat for Humanity in Atlanta, Inc Housing Initiative of North Fulton DBA HomeStretch Humane Society of Morgan County Jerusalem House, Inc LaAmistad, Inc Literacy Action, Inc Meals on Wheels Atlanta Project Open Hand/Atlanta DBA Open Hand Rainbow Village, Inc Saint Joseph s Mercy Care Services, Inc Senior Services North Fulton Shepherd Center, Inc The Study Hall, Inc Théâtre du Rêve Trees Atlanta Trinity Community Ministries, Inc Truancy Intervention Project Georgia, Inc VOX Teen Communications... 41

3 24/7 Gateway, LLC Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency (3) 1,500-pound capacity 72"x36" adjustable height bench, Tennsco model $ items for training including faucets, light kits and tools totaling $2, training manuals and field $120 $5,000 24/7 Gateway, LLC 275 Pryor Street, SW Atlanta, GA $3,151,200 24/7 Gateway works to end chronic homelessness by providing the support and service framework people need to achieve self-sufficiency. It partners with agencies to provide a graduated continuum of care based on individual need. The center offers access to public toilets, showers and hygiene kits, a clothing closet, coin laundry, lockers and other essentials. It connects people to drug and alcohol recovery programs, mental illness treatment, employment training and housing. The core mission of Gateway is to provide a supportive, compassionate setting in which individuals can find what they need to start anew. Highlights of the past 12 months have included the delivery of more than 157,728 specific services and 28,511 meals to 5,703 people. One or more nights of shelter was provided to 3,728 people, while 800 individuals moved to transitional housing, 133 moved to permanent housing and 388 graduated out of homelessness completely. An increase in earnings was experienced by 122 individuals as a step to independence. Gateway partners with nine service organizations that deliver on-site assistance as well as 19 referral partners, including shelters and agencies that support people in moving to transitional housing. Training infrastructure is needed to start a maintenance skills initiative to provide gainful employment opportunities in facilities maintenance, especially apartment complexes. The program requires work stations, training manuals and modules for plumbing, electrical, locksmith, drywall, HVAC and related skills. Trainees will also learn by assisting the Gateway facility staff in maintaining the 35-year-old complex. Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency (ACSS) provides job readiness and placement services to homeless individuals, helping them become self-sufficient and reach their full potential. Programs include CareerWorks, which provides vocational training and job searches to seekers of full-time employment; Veteran s Employment Assistance Program, helping veterans reintegrate into the workforce; and Café 458, a life stabilization program for people with mental illness, chemical dependency or disabilities. ACSS was formed in 2010 through a merger of Samaritan House of Atlanta and the Atlanta Enterprise Center. In the past year ACSS has served nearly 700 homeless men and women. Of the 382 receiving job training and placement assistance, 252 individuals, including 78 veterans, obtained full-time employment at an average wage of $9.52 per hour. Three out of four clients retained these jobs six months later. ACSS also hosted its third annual job fair to connect clients with potential employers. For individuals not ready to enter the workforce, ACSS provided 15,000 meals and made 32,000 MARTA trips possible. Transitional or permanent housing was arranged for 82 people. New all-in-one computers are needed to support computer skills development, job searches and resume writing of nearly 400 clients a year. Existing computers are old and show the wear of constant use. Replacing 14 computers will ensure that a reliable machine is available for each learner during computer instruction as well as for individual use. 14 Hewlett Packard All-In-One 19.5" computers, model $ (Best Buy) $4, Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency 100 Edgewood Avenue, NE Suite 700 Atlanta, GA $1,500,

4 Arts Clayton, Inc. ART Station Contemporary Arts Center and Theatre 200 E-Reader $4 (Amazon.com) 10 Sony digital cameras, model $100 (Amazon.com) 5 sets of cartridges and art $100 (Walmart) Arts Clayton serves a diverse population through the arts in three ways: providing venues and opportunities for artists; delivering arts education; and promoting the arts in community development. Founded in 1986, Arts Clayton opened the first fine art gallery in the south metro area to showcase Georgia artists. The gallery is housed in a historic Jonesboro building, which has been a boon to community development and hosts guest artist residencies. Through the Read to Succeed through the Arts program, the organization s ArtVan, camps and workshops support literacy in partnership with Clayton County Schools. ART Station produces, presents and celebrates visual, literary and performing arts, as well as arts education and community outreach through art. Providing high quality, professional arts events at affordable prices, ART Station seeks to serve persons of all social, cultural, ethnic and economic standing in the community. It is housed in an historic Trolley Car Station in Stone Mountain Village, with two additional galleries located nearby. ART Station presents a theatre season of Equity plays and art exhibitions in its multiple galleries. Other programs include arts education, workshops and an arts incubator program. 1 six-passenger golf cart people tram trailer manufactured by Six Task, model $3,300 (Golf Hauler Trader) $3,300 $2,300 Arts Clayton, Inc. 136 South Main Street Jonesboro, GA $409,000 Highlights of the past year include a growing role in education as the ArtVan mobile literacy initiative served students of 24 elementary schools and three HeadStart and JUMP Pre-Kindergarten sites. In addition to this program, summer camps and workshops resulted in more than 18,800 students being reached. Arts Clayton collaborated with Atlanta Technical College to strengthen preparation for careers in photography, digital design and culinary arts. The organization received one of nine bonus grants awarded through the Georgia Council for the Arts, based on successful private public partnerships. During the past year ART Station produced a theatre season of six productions, 14 gallery exhibitions, an art festival and a variety of outreach programs. The organization has served more than 400 children through arts camps, a performance company, a children s theatre and arts classes. Adults have been served through seasonal arts classes. ART Station s new cabaret theatre featured 12 productions. More than 400 artists have participated in programs over the past 12 months. A Lunch Time Series offers art experiences, plus a boxed lunch, one Monday a month. ART Station Contemporary Arts Center and Theatre P.O. Box 1998 Stone Mountain, GA $642,839 Equipment to support mobile literacy will strengthen Arts Clayton s impact with at-risk students in seven elementary schools where students are reading at or below grade level, and which have a large number of English language learners. For the ArtVan, Arts Clayton will purchase E-Reader books, digital cameras and supplies to promote reading and comprehension across subjects. A hauler tram trailer is needed to expand transportation capacity for ART Station s art gallery tours, historical tours and ghost tours. The tram trailer will attach to ART Station s golf cart, accommodating six more passengers. 4 5

5 Atlanta Community ToolBank Atlanta Lyric Theatre 2 Hewlett Packard Envy laptops, model 15 Quad $ Lenovo Thinkpad Ultra Yoga $1,149 1 Brother CDW color all-in-one printer model $4, Atlanta Community ToolBank 410 Englewood Avenue Atlanta, GA $272,888 The Atlanta Community ToolBank lends tools to charitable organizations to increase the impact of their community efforts. Nonprofits and organized service groups of all types and sizes are eligible to join the ToolBank and enjoy year-round access to more than 200 different tool types. The organization s primary focus is to increase the impact of volunteerism across the metro region by enabling local service agencies to increase the scope and frequency of their community-based projects. Among the most frequent types of projects are clean-ups, construction of playgrounds and outdoor classrooms, home and facility repair and community gardens. In the past year the ToolBank has loaned $1,356,902 worth of tools to 192 member agencies, equipping 59,543 volunteers to complete 2,551 service projects across the metro region. ToolBank organized, loaded and unloaded 726 tool orders, ranging from the smallest order of three extension ladders to the largest order of 532 individual tools. Examples of impact include the removal and recycling of more than 1,000 tires from Arabia Mountain National Park in Lithonia, completion of the Boulevard tunnel mural, monthly cleanups along the Atlanta Beltline and major structural repairs at Oakland Cemetery. Mobile office technology is needed to improve accuracy and speed of tool pick-ups and returns to the ToolBank s 27,000-square-foot warehouse. Tablets and laptops will provide remote access to ordering and tracking systems and also enable direct access to member agencies, enhancing the efficiency of the three-person staff. Atlanta Lyric Theatre produces a wide repertoire of lively musical productions for a diverse audience. It is Atlanta s only local professional musical theatre company and showcases local professional talent, both on stage and behind the scenes. The company was founded in 1980 as Southeastern Savoyards, producing the works of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. Subsequently it expanded to Broadway musicals, which now provide the foundation of work. Since moving to the Cobb Civic Center s Jennie T. Anderson Theatre in Marietta in 2008, the company s season subscriptions have increased 700% and overall ticket sales have grown significantly. During the past year the company served a statewide audience and even drew from neighboring states, benefiting local businesses while providing high-quality performances and employing 150 local actors, technicians, designers and musicians. It partnered with Project Open Hand to raise money for nutrition care for the chronically ill and donated tickets to other nonprofits for their own fundraising efforts. It partnered with Pebblebrook Performing Arts School on student programming as well as the drama classes of Marietta City Schools. Atlanta Lyric Theatre s on-site construction shop builds sets for other theaters and organizations of the region. Equipment for the construction shop is needed to support the company s set-building capabilities, which serve other theatre companies, schools, churches and other organizations. In addition, a commercial cooler is needed for the education and cabaret space, which will benefit both for the summer day camp program for students and an enlarged concession offering during the season. 1 Kelvinator commercial cooler model $1, (JES Restaurant Equipment) 1 Delta band saw, model inch 1 $ (The Home Depot) (1) 30" aluminum walk ramp model VR $679 (discountramps.com) $2, Atlanta Lyric Theatre 2171 Kingston Court Suite D Marietta, GA $1,025,

6 Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation Aurora Theatre, Inc. 100 MARTA Breeze Cards with 2 $6 $600 Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation 235 Peachtree Street, NE Suite 1750 Atlanta, GA $1,076,000 The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) recruits and supports attorneys in providing pro bono civil legal services, including representation, education and advocacy, on behalf of at-risk, low-income individuals, with emphasis on the safety and stability of families. Founded in 1979, AVLF has developed projects that assist vulnerable people facing imminent eviction, coping with intimate partner violence or dealing with consumer problems that threaten their ability to sustain employment. AVLF matches clients with volunteer attorneys well suited to their needs and continues to mentor and supervise the pro bono lawyers through the completion of the representation. Highlights of the past year include arranging for direct advice and counsel to more than 5,000 individuals and families, including direct representation in over 500 cases. A total of 20,000 calls were taken from individuals seeking direction in a legal concern. The AVLF Lawyer in the Library series was held in seven public libraries to educate hundreds of residents about their legal rights. In these and other ways, AVLF volunteers serve as lawyers of the last resort to assure that people without means to hire an attorney have high-quality civil legal assistance. MARTA Breeze Cards are needed to help pre-screened individuals attend the Saturday Lawyer Program held at AVLF offices. The program helps people deal with legal needs that require prompt action, such as a landlord threatening an illegal eviction. A pre-loaded MARTA card with two trips will assure that these people can get to their session and back home. Aurora Theatre, Gwinnett County s only professional theatre company, offers programming that reflects the growing diversity of the county and surrounding area. It produces a six-play mainstage season plus Spanish language programming for Gwinnett s Latino population. The Learning Library produces works for students that tie to curriculum and the Harvel Lab Series offers contemporary plays for college audiences. Aurora also produces a Children s Playhouse, Comedy Nights, Swing Nights and Lawrenceville Ghost Tours. The company was founded in 1996 and its community impact led to a partnership for revitalization with the City of Lawrenceville and private development. In the past year key accomplishments include 600 events that drew more than 62,000 visitors. A production of Les Miserables ran seven weeks with 98% attendance and more than 10,000 tickets sold. Latino-focused Teatro del Sol increased by 14% in attendance and was invited to a Latin festival in Los Angeles. The Learning Lab reached 12,000 students, many of whom experienced their first theatrical performance. Aurora provided more than $15,000 in scholarships for underserved students. A recent impact study showed that Aurora has $3.2 million of direct effect annually on the local economy. Assistive listening devices will broaden Aurora s ability to serve patrons who need this equipment to fully hear and enjoy productions in the company s 250-seat and 90-seat theaters. The same devices also can be used to provide translation to Spanish language patrons, strengthening the company s capacity to serve this growing population as well. 2 William Sound assistive listening devices model PPA VP $999 (Jireh Supplies) 6 William Sound receivers model PPA $109 (Jireh Supplies) 14 sets of Sennheiser headphones model $25 (Jireh Supplies) $3,002 Aurora Theatre, Inc. P.O. Box 2014 Lawrenceville, GA $1,899,

7 Ben Franklin Academy CARES, Inc. 7 Lenovo ThinkCentre desktop PCs, model M83 MT Core $ $4, Ben Franklin Academy 1585 Clifton Road, NE Atlanta, GA $3,163,500 Ben Franklin Academy provides highly specialized instruction and one-on-one attention to high school students aged who desire a very personalized college preparatory experience due to reasons that can include learning disabilities, certain physical disabilities, chronic illness, emotional challenges or other factors. During the past academic year, this caring community of learners included 134 high school students and 164 students in the Clinic Program. A total of 59 students transferred in from other high schools. Ben Franklin advances the knowledge and methodology of adolescent education through research, curriculum development, innovative learning materials and publications. Achievements in the past academic year included the qualification of two 12th graders as National Merit Semifinalists based on PSAT scores, with one named a National Merit Finalist. The Class of 2014 had 42 graduates who received more than $2.3 million in college scholarships and 81% qualified for the HOPE Scholarship. Graduates were accepted to leading colleges including Emory, Northwestern, Penn State and Virginia Tech, with 80% admitted to their first choice. For the student body as a whole, more than 90% participated in extracurricular activities such as the popular Ben Franklin Players. Upgraded technology is needed to optimize the learning of technology-savvy and highly creative students. Older, slow desktops now being used by juniors and seniors will be replaced by new Lenovo machines with updated software that accommodates multiple learning styles. The new computers will match students skills and serve their needs for academic and extracurricular purposes. CARES (Community Assistance Resources and Emergency Services) serves the Pickens County community by providing food and other items, temporary financial assistance and resource counseling for local people in need. Clients may be experiencing unemployment, illness, accident or other misfortune. The common factor among qualifying recipients is an emergency need for the basic essentials of life. CARES strives to strengthen body and spirit alike. It has roots in a local food pantry, which in 2004 decided to embark on an expanded mission to address poverty and related needs more broadly in Pickens County. Over the past 12 months CARES has provided food in large quantities, serving 201 families per week in order to help bring stability to the home and assure the well-being of children. Emergency and temporary financial assistance helped 153 families avoid homelessness or other circumstances of crisis. By providing assistance with the costs of child care and transportation, CARES helped 22 clients advance their education through completing the requirements for their GED or receiving technical training or a college degree. All clients who receive food also receive counseling throughout their relationship with CARES. Outside storage is needed to store the equipment to maintain CARES half-acre lawn. Growth of the program has consumed interior storage space and a storage building is needed for yard equipment. 1 Rainbow End peak roof outside storage building with 8' $4, (The Home Depot) $4, CARES, Inc. P.O. Box 1342 Jasper, GA $232,

8 The Center for Children & Young Adults Center for Puppetry Arts, Inc. 2 Member s Mark 8 Burner Event Grills model GR $399 (Sam s Club) 20 Fathead wall graphics SKU $99.99 ( $2, The Center for Children & Young Adults 2221 Austell Road Building 1, Suite 100 Marietta, GA $2,779,774 The Center for Children & Young Adults (CCYA) provides a safe, nurturing environment with comprehensive services for homeless youth and young adults, who have been abandoned, neglected, abused or are at risk. CCYA was established in 1981 as a shelter for Cobb County youth with histories of neglect or abuse who needed housing. Today CCYA operates three foster care group homes plus a transitional living program for young adults ages Youth come from throughout the metro region and receive services that include educational support, coordination of medical care and on-site therapeutic service. Currently in its 33rd year, CCYA provided service to 164 boys and girls in the last 12 months. In 2013 CCYA implemented a staff curriculum based on Trauma Informed Care practices and is the first youth residential program in Georgia to use this certification program. In addition, CCYA worked with the Nonprofit Finance Fund to conduct a five-year financial analysis and board training through The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta s Nonprofit Toolbox program. The organization introduced a pet therapy program and created an on-campus learning lab for GED classes and tutoring sessions. A $100,000 grant from A Million Matters made possible an outdoor recreation area with basketball court. The Center for Puppetry Arts touches lives through puppets, developing and exploring the art form through captivating performances, innovative educational programs and a museum featuring puppets of different cultures, geographies and time periods. The Center is the largest nonprofit in the country devoted to the art of puppetry. It serves a diverse audience and provides 70,000 subsidized or free admissions annually to assure accessibility to the underserved. The Center was chosen in 2007 by the family of the late Jim Henson, founder of the Muppets, as home to the collection that honors his legacy. In its just-completed 35th season, the Center presented more than 600 live puppetry performances in addition to workshops, outreach activities, museum exhibits, tours, films and Distance Learning programs. School groups provided a substantial audience, with many students visiting through free or discounted tickets. Educational offerings used puppetry in innovative ways to explore a variety of topics, helping children engage with such subjects as reading, health, science and technology. Continuing a tradition of partnering with other arts organizations, in 2013 the Center worked with Serenbe Playhouse to design and build puppets for the Playhouse s production of The Wizard of Oz. 1 Zoll AED Plus Rescue Ready Kit model AHA $1,699 (American AED) 200 all-inclusive tickets to the $16.50 $4,999 Center for Puppetry Arts, Inc Spring Street, NW Atlanta, GA $3,530,446 Outdoor grills are needed to supplement existing meal preparation facilities, to encourage volunteers to come in to prepare meals and to enhance community and fundraising events. The grills will be integrated into the new outdoor recreation area. In addition, Fathead wall graphics are needed to decorate the boys bedrooms and make them feel homelike. An automated external defibrillator (AED) is needed for medical emergencies that could arise as thousands of individuals visit annually. Nine staff know how to administer CPR and how to use an AED. Having one on hand will improve preparedness for a cardiac arrest episode. Also needed is funding for 200 tickets to be used for requests from CHRIS Kids and similar youth organizations

9 Center for the Visually Impaired City of Refuge, Inc. 5 Apple ipad 16GB $ (Apple Store) 5 Google Nexus GB $ (Google) 1 Sentry Safe for tablet storage, model $ (Amazon.com) $4, Center for the Visually Impaired 739 West Peachtree Street, NW Atlanta, GA $4,055,261 The Center for the Visually Impaired (CVI) empowers people impacted by vision loss to live with independence and dignity. It serves all ages with specialized programs including BEGIN for pre-school children; STARS for students aged six to 21; low vision assessment, counseling and training in the use of assistive devices; adult rehabilitation services to support greater independence at home and work; and a retail shop offering low vision aids, assistive technology and adaptive devices. Founded more than 50 years ago, CVI is Georgia s largest comprehensive organization for helping people with low vision realize their full potential in life. CVI s impact in the past 12 months includes service to more than 5,000 individuals who are blind or visually impaired, as well as families and caregivers. Through the STARS program, 105 students gained the skills and confidence to achieve their educational and/or employment goals. Among these students, 93% reported attaining average to excellent reading skills, 88% reported the same for computer skills and 98% reported average to excellent independence skills. Among the STARS participants were eight students who graduated high school, all of whom advanced to college, vocational training or employment. Tablets with specialized applications are needed to teach STARS students how to use accessibility features designed for the visually impaired, to teach them in the use of social media and to encourage their use of fitness tracking applications to promote physical activity, since visually impaired persons are more likely to be sedentary than their sighted peers. The City of Refuge is a Christian ministry that helps Atlanta s last, lost and least to stabilize their lives with housing, healthcare, education and employment. A major area of focus is women and children who are experiencing homelessness. The organization has an eight-acre campus and renovated warehouse complex where it seeks to offer a one-stop shop for needed services in a community that is underserved and lacking in resources. Most clients are single females with children and no income. City of Refuge aims to ensure that they attain the ability to acquire employment and retain stable housing. Highlights of the past year for City of Refuge include the housing of 1,194 individuals, of whom 629 were women and 595 children. An analysis of three years of client service shows that less than 4% of those served have returned to the organization for repeat assistance due to another episode of homelessness. In the current year 89% of those who have left City of Refuge following a period of service have moved into a positive living situation, with half of these clients having sustainable income and their own apartment. Notebook computers and gas cards are needed, with the notebooks to be used for interns who assist with case management and client advocacy. The computers will enable research on community resources as well as keeping management records, and will be a communication tool for clients. Gas cards will assist clients who have their own vehicle to get to work. 6 Hewlett Packard notebook computers model Pavilion $ (Quill) $3, City of Refuge, Inc Joseph E. Boone Blvd. Atlanta, GA $3,101,

10 CURE Childhood Cancer Elachee Nature Science Center 50 gas $100 (QuikTrip, Shell) $5,000 CURE Childhood Cancer 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite N402 Atlanta, GA $4,100,000 CURE Childhood Cancer aims to end childhood cancer through funding targeted research and providing support for patients and their families. Founded in 1974 by concerned parents and a pediatric oncologist, CURE is connected with laboratory research at leading centers including Children s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory s Winship Cancer Institute that translates into immediate care for children with cancer. The organization provides emergency financial assistance to families affected by the costs of treating childhood cancer, to be used for medical bills, costs of prescriptions, housing, utilities, groceries and other basic family needs. In the last 12 months CURE has provided nearly $100,000 of emergency financial aid to 188 Georgia families to cope with economic hardship arising from costs associated with treating childhood cancer. In addition to covering necessities for daily life, CURE has provided transportation assistance to 47 families so that young patients could be taken to treatment. A pilot program launched in 2013 enabled 11 families to benefit from 38 sessions of professional counseling, resulting in reduced symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. Another 67 families who had lost a child participated in CURE s annual Weekend of Hope and Healing. Gas cards are needed to help families across the state transport their children for vital treatment. This can involve multiple weekly trips of great distance, such as from Albany or Valdosta to Atlanta. The cost of travel is compounded by the fact that often, a parent is taking time off from work to make the trip. The Elachee Nature Science Center promotes environmental understanding through education and conservation efforts for students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade and also for families and adults. Elachee started more than 35 years ago as a grassroots movement to establish a community nature center. It has grown into a premier program serving more than 35,000 people a year, with visitors coming from across metro Atlanta and even from neighboring states. In addition to field studies, Elachee offers a summer day camp and manages the 1,400-acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve, the largest protected green space in North Georgia. In the past 12 months Elachee has opened the first Nature Pre-school program in the Southeast, integrating environmental education with developmentally appropriate curriculum for children during pre-school years. In addition, an E house was built in collaboration with partners to demonstrate energy conservation and sustainable practices, and was visited by 1,856 students. Conservation projects were undertaken in the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve to maintain 12 miles of trails, monitor streams and encourage bio-diversity. Elachee partners with 17 school systems of Metro Atlanta and Northeast Georgia and also with Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper for the use of the Chota Princess II floating classroom. Walkie Talkies and pressurized lumber are needed to enhance programming and to maintain trails. The Walkie Talkies will replace old, unreliable sets to promote the safety of visitors taking the hour-long hiking tour of the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve. The lumber will improve trail sections that become soggy, causing hikers to unintentionally widen the trail by walking around the wet spots. 6 Vertex Walkie Talkie sets model Standard $195 (Call MC) (25) 4x4x8 sections of #2 pressure treated $7.77 (Lowe s) (25) 2x6x16 sections of Top Choice #2 Prime pressure treated $11.27 (Lowe s) $1,646 Elachee Nature Science Center 2125 Elachee Drive Gainesville, GA $960,200

11 The Elaine Clark Center Families First, Inc. 2 ipad $320 (Apple Store) 9 ipads with retina $399 (Apple Store) 1 Proloqu2Go assistive ware $219 (itunes) $4,450 The Elaine Clark Center 5130 Peachtree Boulevard Chamblee, GA $1,266,000 The Elaine Clark Center serves the educational and social development of children with special needs and their families. The Center began in the 1960s as a tutoring program for young children with developmental disabilities. It grew into a program that helps these children develop the capabilities to live as independently as possible as they grow to adulthood. The Center helps its young participants become confident and contributing citizens of the community. Services include developmental assessments; early intervention; child development including innovative occupational, speech and physical therapies; vocational training; pediatric nursing; respite care; and summer camps. Highlights of the past year include serving 17 children from six weeks to 21 years old with services specialized based on individual need. The Center s Out of School services (after school, summer camps and respite care) were enlarged with more travel opportunities for younger children and more community based vocational training for teens. The year also brought an expansion of scholarships to provide access to more families and more developmental assessments on referral. The Center initiated an outreach program for parents of public school children to assess individual education plans and placements. Families First is one of Georgia s leading nonprofit family service agencies and has served the metro region for 124 years. The organization delivers an extensive array of services that improve the well-being of children and the ability of families to be self-sufficient and stable. Programs include adoption services; pregnancy and parenting services, including doulas (with specialized service for teen pregnancies); counseling programs, including family violence intervention; support for foster families; services for youth transitioning out of foster care; and transitional living settings for young mothers with children that emphasize parenting skills and getting the education necessary for self-sufficiency. During the past 12 months Families First has served 40,032 individuals throughout Georgia, with most living in the primary five counties of metro Atlanta. In the specialized area of Child and Youth Permanency, Families First assisted a total of 3,128 individuals through the Post Adoptive Family Resources program; 105 children and youth in the Permanency Housing program; and 151 adoptive families and 143 youth with mentoring services. Among children who resided in Families First Permanency Cooperatives (formerly known as group homes), 78% were enrolled in secondary schools and 61% demonstrated academic improvement. 13 Visa gift $384 (Walmart) $4,992 Families First, Inc West Peachtree Street, NE Atlanta, GA $10,223,540 Communication devices are needed to help children and young adults convey basic needs and develop functional skills. Most of the Center s participants use the Picture Exchange Communication System and ipads have applications for expressing needs such as bathroom and hungry. This technology gives autistic and developmentally disabled people a voice both at the Center and in the community. Gift cards are needed for residents of the Permanency Cooperatives to purchase clothing beyond the State of Georgia s $300 per child clothing allowance. The overall gap between the State s rate for daily care and actual living costs is approximately 30% and must be covered by community support. Gift cards will purchase winter clothing and suitable attire for interviews

12 Fernbank Museum of Natural History Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy 1 Canon XA 25 professional HD camcorder model $2,499 (B&H) 1 Manfrotto fluid head and tripod system model MVH502A, (B&H) 1 Sennheiser G3 wireless microphone system ew 112-p model $ (B&H) $3, Fernbank Museum of Natural History 767 Clifton Road, NE Atlanta, GA $9,033,100 Fernbank Museum inspires lifelong natural history learning through programming and experiences that encourage appreciation of the planet and its inhabitants. The original organization was founded in 1938 to preserve Fernbank Forest as a school in the wood for nature studies and expanded dramatically in 1992 with the opening of the Fernbank Museum, which features two to three special exhibitions a year, IMAX films, outdoor environmental programs, exploratory science classes and family enrichment programs. Fernbank is among only 5% of museums in the country accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The past year featured 16 weekends of special family activities which drew 6,700 visitors and more than 500 science programs were especially designed to enhance school curriculum. Total visitors exceeded 376,000 including 56,731 students. Of these, 14,689 received admissions scholarships, reflecting Fernbank s commitment to accessibility for the broad community. Special exhibitions were mounted on mammals and Marco Polo and IMAX films included Flight of the Butterfly and Alaska: Spirit of the Wild. The museum unveiled an updated paleontologist journal application with enriched interactive content. A professional grade video camera with support components is needed to expand educational and outreach offerings online. The production of online videos will engage a broader audience, especially educators seeking to integrate Fernbank s natural history content into the classroom experience. Online video also will support a substantial plan to restore Fernbank Forest and establish new outdoor education space. The Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy promotes early literacy among children in low-income communities to advance their readiness for school. Free, age appropriate books are mailed each month to children registered in the program, within the age span of birth to five years. Parents also receive support to develop literacy in their children. Participants become involved through the efforts of volunteers who register children, build partnerships and generate community support. The organization was founded in 1999 and in 2012 became a stand-alone initiative with its own Read To Me distribution library. Highlights of the past year include the mailing of nearly 120,000 books, plus parent support newsletters, to nearly 10,000 children in 17 counties. In collaboration with the Atlanta Speech School, the Ferst Foundation developed focused reading guides for each of the six books mailed per month, helping parents build language and literacy skills in the home. The Ferst Foundation also partnered in promoting the City of Atlanta Mayor s Summer Reading Club, which involved the distribution of more than 10,000 books. A collaboration with Georgia s First Lady Sandra Deal promoted her Read Across Georgia selection Who I d Like to Be. Books, bookcases and DVDs are needed for a pilot initiative with the Georgia Department of Public Health s Talk To Me Baby program to set up lending libraries in WIC centers and Atlanta s Centro Hispano Marista. Low-income parents will have immediate access to high-quality reading material that reinforce family reading in the home. 10 Read To Me libraries (150 assorted $375 (Peachtree Pub, Our Rainbow, Harper Collins) (10) 3-shelf Ameriwood $21.60 model PCOM (Walmart) 500 copies of Atlanta Speech School R.E.A.D. $1.50 (Target Resources Group) $4,716 Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy P.O. Box 1327 Madison, GA $1,114,

13 Forsyth County Family Haven, Inc. Girls Incorporated of Greater Atlanta 1 Kennedy 7-seat sectional sofa of bonded 4, (Lazy Boy) 2 Kallax wall shelf units with 4 $ (Ikea) $4, Forsyth County Family Haven, Inc. P.O. Box 1160 Cumming, GA haven.info $771,152 Forsyth County Family Haven provides individual and family victims of domestic violence with shelter, advocacy, support programs and community education to end the cycle of violence. It was founded in 1989 by two Dominican nuns who recognized the need for safe housing for women and children trapped in abusive relationships. It has grown to be a 21-bed emergency shelter with three apartment-style transitional housing units, plus a 24/7 crisis line, bilingual case management, legal advocacy, child advocacy and community awareness efforts. Nearly 1,400 youth are reached through teen dating violence awareness programs. Milestones of the last 12 months include providing emergency shelter services to 162 women and children, making transitional housing available to three families and delivering advocacy and support services outside the shelter for 1,001 victims of domestic violence. Forsyth County Family Haven spearheaded and raised funds for a Forsyth County Forum on Domestic Violence and facilitated Teen Safe Date programs at two county high schools, engaging 586 students. The organization also offered a domestic violence support group at United Way of Forsyth County and expanded its social media presence while also introducing a quarterly e-newsletter. A sectional sofa and wall shelves are needed for the shelter. The sofa will replace donated furniture in the family room, a place where women and children gather to relax, watch TV, have conversations, read and think. The shelves will provide additional storage space in the program supply room for items now stored in plastic bins. Girls Incorporated of Greater Atlanta (Girls Inc.) inspires girls to be strong, smart and bold by teaching them to manage money, deal with peer pressure, critically examine the media and develop a love of science and math. Thus girls are equipped to navigate gender, economic and social barriers in order to break the cycle of poverty, achieve academic success and become healthy, educated, independent adults. Of the 1,200 girls served annually, 85% are economically disadvantaged based on TANF and HUD guidelines. Most are from single-parent homes. The age range is five to 18, and most are between ages nine and 14. Over the past year the programming of Girls Inc. has focused on the four areas of healthy lifestyles, academic achievement, stable and self-sufficient families and stronger communities. Experiential learning is emphasized, exemplified in the Girls Inc. Summer University. This year it included a job shadow day at Automatic Data Processing (ADP) for teen girls, where they learned what it takes to become a member of the ADP team and engaged in mock interviews. A STEM summit at Georgia Tech was attended by more than 230 middle school girls. The event was sponsored by GE. New conference room furniture is needed to replace 20-year-old furniture that is damaged and worn. The conference room hosts meetings with volunteers, current and potential funders and community partners as well as staff gatherings. Renovation of the room will inspire greater confidence in the organization as well as improve comfort and aesthetics. 10 Economax conference room $159 (Office Furniture Center) (1) 10 Luna cherry veneer Racetrack conference $1,095 (Office Furniture Center) 6 Safco reception area chairs model Sy Guest $189 (Wayfair.com) $3,819 Girls Incorporated of Greater Atlanta 1401 Peachtree Street Suite 500 Atlanta, GA $1,211,

14 Habitat for Humanity in Atlanta, Inc. Housing Initiative of North Fulton DBA HomeStretch 60 Cobra 3/8 X 3 ft. toilet augers model $9.48 (Lowe s) 50 Feit electric 60w CFL bulbs 12 pack model $16.47 (The Home Depot) $1, Habitat for Humanity in Atlanta, Inc. 824 Memorial Drive, SE Atlanta, GA $8,416,100 Habitat for Humanity in Atlanta (Atlanta Habitat) partners with working families, sponsors and communities to build affordable, green, quality homes and provides support services that promote successful home purchase and ownership. Since 1983 Atlanta Habitat has built and renovated more than 1,300 homes in 168 Atlanta neighborhoods. It works with families that earn less than 80% of the area median income and is the only provider of no-interest mortgages in the city, making homeownership possible for families who would not qualify for traditional financing. Atlanta Habitat is one of the largest Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the United States. During 2013 Atlanta Habitat met its goal of building 40 new energy-efficient homes and renovating five existing Habitat homes. The organization offered 109 homeowner classes to 210 families as part of the requirement to complete a comprehensive homeowner education program. Nearly 13,000 volunteers participated in Atlanta Habitat projects during the year, providing more than 122,000 hours of service. In addition, Atlanta Habitat recently met a $12 million capital campaign goal for new facilities including a 25,000-square-foot ReStore. The new headquarters and Family Support Center will be ready by the end of the year. HomeStretch guides homeless working families with minor children in North Metro Atlanta toward self-reliance and stability by providing housing, case management, life skills and mentoring. Activities are focused on helping families regain financial control and secure permanent housing. Objectives for success are to: pay off housing-related debt; increase household income and savings; maintain employment and increase employability; and strengthen family dynamics and remain intact as a family unit. HomeStretch was established in 1991 by local charities that collaborated in response to an increase in the number of families in the area needing housing assistance. Highlights of the past year cover the four focus areas of HomeStretch s programming: 1) Stable families 97% of families successfully engaged in Adult Life Skills Education and Youth Development and 88% made progress on their individualized Family Development Plan; 2) Stable housing 96% of families who exited the program secured stable housing; 3) Stable employment 92% of families were employed full time (at least 35 hours weekly) and 44% increased their wages; and 4) Stable finances 90% of families maintained a bank account and 92% improved their income to expense ratio and 86% decreased their debt. 10 Crazy Quilt twin mattress set and bed frame glide model 610L and frame BF $122 (Corsicana Bedding, Inc.) 7 Crazy Quilt full mattress set and bed frame glide model 610L and frame BF $146 (Corsicana Bedding, Inc.) 3 Dell computer work stations with Microsoft Office 2013 model l3000sg3220 4/500/8.1, Dell 23" LED S2340M $ (Micro Center) $4, Toilet augers and energy efficient light bulbs are needed for new homeowners. The augers will help to teach plumbing basics as part of comprehensive education on maintenance, repair and other aspects of homeownership. Compact fluorescent light bulbs will be distributed to homeowners to help them conserve energy and reduce utility bills. Mattresses, beds and computer work stations are needed for three new housing units acquired during the year. Twin and full mattresses and bed frames will assure that families moving into these units have new bedding. Desktop computers will enable adults to complete online training and communicate with their caseworker, while helping children with homework. Housing Initiative of North Fulton DBA HomeStretch 89 Grove Way Roswell, GA $724,

15 Humane Society of Morgan County Jerusalem House, Inc. 5 Precision Pet paneled 38" courtyard $ (Amazon.com) 6 Precision Pet kennel sun sail $99.99 (Amazon.com) 1 Ricoh Aficio color copier model MP C305 $3,411 (Milner) $4, Humane Society of Morgan County 1170 Fairgrounds Road Madison, GA $225,830 The Humane Society of Morgan County (Humane Society) operates a fully staffed adoption center for dogs and cats. A minimum of 55 animals are housed every day, with an average of at least one adoption per day. All animals are vaccinated, spayed or neutered, microchipped and de-wormed before adoption. The mission is to save more animals by promoting adoption of healthy, friendly companion animals obtained from the public and from overcrowded animal control and rescue facilities. The organization has operated since 1994 and received a bequest in 2011 that led to the building of its current facility. In the past year the Humane Society has conducted semi-annual low-cost rabies vaccination clinics for cats and dogs and partnered with the Atlanta Humane Society to bring a low-cost spay and neuter clinic to the community on several occasions. Community education on pet care and the importance of spaying and neutering is a major focus. This includes working with local schools by providing educational materials and seminars for students. In addition to operating the adoption center, the Humane Society participates in monthly adoption events. A grant from Banfield was obtained to help low-income pet owners obtain vet care. Paneled kennels, sun shades and a copier will enhance the Humane Society s work. The kennels are needed for use at adoption events to allow prospective adopters the opportunity to interact easily with animals. The sun shades will cool the adoption center s outdoor dog run. The copier will reduce the cost of producing quality color printed materials for a variety of needs. Jerusalem House is the oldest and largest provider of permanent housing for Atlanta s low-income and homeless individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS. Currently Jerusalem House provides 60% of permanent housing in the city designated for this target population. Clients are served by support services delivered by staff and through partnerships with other agencies, including case management, counseling, education, budgeting classes, medical services, substance abuse and mental health treatment, child care and assistance with food and clothing. The services of Jerusalem House reduce HIV/AIDS transmission rates and emergency room visits among the chronically ill homeless. During the past year 97% of clients sustained participation in their assigned program, which exceeded the organization s goal of 75%. All residents met at least one personal or professional goal of their Individual Service Plan to increase economic stability and 83% met more than one goal. Through adherence to a stable medication regimen, 85% of residents reported improved health outcomes. All school-aged children served by Jerusalem House advanced to the next grade level, which is a key objective in order to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty and disease. Induction cooktops and matching pots with lids are needed for the Programs for Adults, where residents share a central kitchen. Most residents have a hot plate in their room, which is inefficient and a potential safety hazard. Equipping each room with an induction cooktop and complimentary pot with lid will make it both convenient and safe to prepare food. 30 Nuwave induction cooktops (black) model $108 (Walmart) 30 Nuwave 3.5 pot with lid model $43.20 (Walmart) $4,536 Jerusalem House, Inc. 17 Executive Park Drive, NE Department W Suite 290 Atlanta, GA $4,310,

16 LaAmistad, Inc. Literacy Action, Inc. 50 Gildan dry blend pullover hooded $25 (SanMar) 33 New Balance 574 youth $39.99 (Kids Foot Locker) 40 Nike Air Monarch IV Cross Training adult $59.99 (Sports Authority) $4, LaAmistad, Inc Roswell Road Atlanta, GA $392,379 LaAmistad serves Latino students and their families with a comprehensive support system through tutoring, mentoring and resources to promote academic, physical and personal growth. The organization has four after-school and three adult English as a Second Language locations and operates the Animate Summer Camp to help students sustain academic progress between school years. LaAmistad (which means the friendship ) was organized in 2001 to help Latino children from underprivileged families improve academic success. In addition to student-oriented services, LaAmistad connects families with assistance to strengthen skills, address specific needs and improve their quality of life. Doubling in size over the past year, LaAmistad assisted more than 160 students from six public schools. The Animate Summer Camp, held in partnership with the Westminster Schools, drew more than 65 student volunteers to assist campers with academics. LaAmistad also partners with the Atlanta International School, the Cathedral of St. Philip and Westminster Presbyterian Church. LaAmistad s partnerships have also resulted in seven students attending The Schenck School, the Westminster Schools and Pace Academy on full scholarships. A partnership with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund has provided learning opportunities for parents of after-school students. Sweatshirts and athletic shoes are requested for LaAmistad students. The sweatshirts will be silk screened with the LaAmistad logo to build a sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves. These items will provide warmth in the winter as well. Because LaAmistad students walk long distances, they wear out shoes quickly. LaAmistad wants to help families with this need. Literacy Action teaches literacy to undereducated adults as well as life and work skills that empower people to reach their highest potential. It was founded in 1968 and operated for 17 years in Central Presbyterian Church. Today it offers instruction in writing, math and GED preparation as well as reading. A Learning Lab provides extra help for students who need it, or who have difficulty attending regularly due to work. Literacy Action is a grantee of the Technical College System of Georgia and offers classes throughout the Atlanta area, free of charge. A milestone of the past year was a merger with Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta, which united two of Georgia s leading adult literacy organizations to serve adults who want to improve their skills, need English as a Second Language instruction or seek to improve work and life skills in the pursuit of U.S. citizenship. With the merger, the pool of trained volunteers grew to 350 and the expanded organization will serve individuals with greater scale and efficiency. Literacy Action s regional economic impact is $20.5 million annually through increased employment, higher wages, reduced rate of incarceration and reduced healthcare costs. Citizenship Student Packs are needed for adults taking classes to pursue U.S. citizenship. These classes prepare students to pass the literacy tests and successfully navigate the interview required to be considered for citizenship. The student packs are vital resources that help to open doors leading to a new life as a U.S. citizen. 54 Citizenship Student $91.20 (New Readers Press) $4, Literacy Action, Inc. 100 Edgewood Avenue, NE Suite 650 Atlanta, GA $1,746,

17 Meals on Wheels Atlanta Project Open Hand/Atlanta DBA Open Hand 80 Patton space heaters model $39.99 (The Home Depot) 35 Temperature Control Devices ice $15 (Nutri-Systems Meals on Wheels Store) 16 Omron 10+ blood pressure $71.76 (Walmart) $4, Meals on Wheels Atlanta 1705 Commerce Drive, NW Atlanta, GA $3,719,579 Meals On Wheels Atlanta supports senior independence through meals, shelter, education and community. Founded in 1965 as Senior Citizen Services, today the organization serves approximately 2,500 seniors a year in the Atlanta area by delivering meals, repairing homes, operating senior centers and providing education about wellness, safety and other relevant topics. This includes helping seniors and families manage dementia. The population over the age of 60 in Georgia is rapidly rising and one in five people will be in this age group by Meals On Wheels services will become even more vital as the community ages. Highlights of the past year include providing services to more seniors and engaging the community with a capital campaign to make building renovations. Improved facilities are important for the purposes of maintaining service levels and providing capacity for growth. Meal delivery continued to rise as it has done each year since A new record for delivered meals of 125,000 was set in Other programs include home repair, daily programs at eight senior centers and the annual Adult Day Health program, which contributed to empowering seniors to stay in their homes and communities as they age. Space heaters, ice packs and blood pressure monitors will support seniors in remaining independent at home. Demand for home space heaters exceeds the organization s previous ability to fulfill. Ice packs are needed to maintain delivered meals at proper temperature as volunteers drive their routes. Blood pressure monitors at eight senior centers will facilitate self monitoring by program participants. Open Hand provides prepared meals and nutrition services to persons with critical/ chronic illnesses or disabilities, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, spinal cord injuries and others who do not qualify for other existing meal programs including homebound seniors. The organization s Comprehensive Nutrition Care approach helps people prevent or manage chronic disease by combining home-delivered meals and nutrition education. Open Hand began in 1988 providing freshly cooked meals to persons with AIDS who were too sick to cook, and has expanded through the years to address a broad array of chronic and nutrition-related conditions. Key achievements of the past year include preparing and delivering more than one million medically appropriate meals, plus nutrition education, to support the management of chronic diseases, combat malnutrition, prevent disease progression and promote independent living. The organization s 2013 client survey showed multiple significant improvements related to: blood pressure (58.3%), blood sugar (31.1%) and physician-ordered lowering of medication dose (11.9%). Clients also reported reduced weight, increased energy and improvements in mood and stress. In addition to these health and quality of life advances, the positive societal effects include reduced hospitalizations and related costs. A remote temperature monitoring system will promote the safety of food in storage and improve efficiency. Maintaining stored food at the proper temperature is crucial, yet it is a time-consuming manual inspection process with vulnerabilities during non-business hours. A remote system will raise Open Hand s ability to ensure food quality to a new level while reducing labor costs. 1 TempGenius remote temperature monitoring system, transmitter with RTD $4,535 (TempGenius Compliance Control) $4,535 Project Open Hand/Atlanta DBA Open Hand 181 Armour Drive, NE Atlanta, GA $9,841,

18 Rainbow Village, Inc. Saint Joseph s Mercy Care Services, Inc. 1 Angeles 6-seat Fat Tire Bye-Bye $1, (Kaplan Co.) 1 Kaplan transparent sand and water table item # $ (Kaplan Co.) 80 gas and grocery $25 (Kroger, Walmart, Quiktrip) $3, Rainbow Village, Inc Duluth Highway 120 Duluth, GA $1,459,900 Rainbow Village offers community-based transitional housing and support services to help homeless families break the cycle of poverty and achieve self-sufficiency. Since 1991 the organization has helped more than 800 families make this change successfully. Serving up to 12 families at a time with fully furnished homes, Rainbow Village achieves a success rate of 85% through a one to two year program designed to support families as they transition to independence and prosperity. Families attend classes and receive counseling and case management to address a range of needs. Most families served are headed by women who have fled domestic violence. Over the past 12 months Rainbow Village has progressed to the third phase in its expansion plans that were launched in A community center is under construction, facilitating the start of an early childhood education program in 2015 to serve 60 children. This program will address a major barrier to overcoming poverty for Rainbow Village families. In addition, a new apartment building in the complex is near completion, which will include three-bedroom/ two-bath apartments for six families. During 2013 a total of 43 individuals in 14 families graduated from the program and transitioned to homes of their own. Equipment is needed for the soon-to-start early childhood education program including a six-seat stroller for transporting infants and toddlers and a sand and water table. The gas and grocery cards are an important resource to help graduates deal with occasional difficulties and avoid falling back into crisis or even homelessness. Saint Joseph s Mercy Care Services (Mercy Care) provides primary care, dental care, integrated behavioral health, health education, recuperative care and a comprehensive array of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services for homeless and underserved individuals of metro Atlanta. It originated in the early 1980s when Saint Joseph s Hospital of Atlanta relocated to its present location, yet determined to remain accessible to inner city street people. Today Mercy Care has a staff of 150 plus 200 volunteers, two mobile medical units and 13 fixed and mobile sites for serving poor and marginalized persons with excellent medical care. Over the past 12 months Mercy Care has served 12,796 patients with a total of 47,658 encounters. Reflecting Atlanta s diversity, 28% were served in a language other than English. Among all patients who received care during the year, 95% were uninsured and 83% had incomes at or below the federal poverty level. Behavioral health care is now offered in almost half of Mercy Care sites, with more than 6,000 patient visits last year. Also in 2013, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention s recommendations for HIV screening were implemented and 4,533 patients were tested with 31 newly-diagnosed cases successfully linked to care. MARTA round-trip Breeze Cards are needed to help patients with transportation to and from visits. Many patients need the services of multiple sites, and transportation demand always exceeds funding available through grants. The cards help to overcome a major barrier to patient access and follow-through, thus contributing directly to improved health outcomes and better management of chronic illness. 550 MARTA round-trip Breeze $6 $3,300 Saint Joseph s Mercy Care Services, Inc. 424 Decatur Street, SE Atlanta, GA $13,779,

19 Senior Services North Fulton Shepherd Center, Inc. 100 gifts $25 (Kroger, Publix, Walmart) 250 gas $10 (QuikTrip) $5,000 Senior Services North Fulton 3060 Royal Boulevard South Suite 130 Alpharetta, GA $606,441 Senior Services North Fulton provides programs and services for older adults who live in North Fulton County. Since its founding in 1991, the organization has delivered nearly 800,000 nutritious meals to seniors at risk. It also provides senior center programming, care management, in-home services, health and wellness initiatives, advocacy, referrals and transportation for medical appointments. Services are designed to improve quality of life, promote independence and maximize potential for seniors, who comprise the fastest growing segment of the North Fulton population. Compared to 2010, by 2018 the senior population of the community is projected to grow by 46%. Highlights of the past year have centered on helping older adults remain independent and live in the community. This includes delivering thousands of meals to homebound clients through the efforts of volunteers, coordinating in-home services for each client, and engaging hundreds in the programming offered at four senior centers. Transportation services have enabled seniors to get to medical appointments and enjoy community outings. A new website was launched to help seniors, families, volunteers and donors engage with the organization. Senior Services North Fulton also joined a newly-formed task force to address community poverty. Shepherd Center helps people who have a temporary or permanent disability caused by injury or disease to rebuild their lives. Since 1975 Shepherd Center has grown from a six-bed facility to the nation s largest nonprofit hospital specializing in rehab and research for spinal injury and disease, brain injury, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular conditions. The 152-bed hospital serves 1,000 inpatients and 600 day-program participants a year, with more than 6,600 outpatient clinical visits. In addition to outstanding care, Shepherd Center is known for a wide range of value-added programs that promote hope, independence and dignity. In the past 12 months key milestones have included: providing complimentary housing and transportation to more than 1,700 family members and day-program patients; serving 4,426 inpatients, day-program participants and outpatients through 21 recreation therapy programs, including adventure skills workshops, field trips and sports programs; serving eight to 12 service members each month in the SHARE Military Initiative; serving more than 2,000 multiple sclerosis patients; continuing to provide leadership in clinical trials of the Indego robotic exoskeleton in partnership with Parker Hannfin; and providing more than $14 million of community benefits including $3 million in charity care. 1 X-CHANGE multi-court $1,926 (Eagle Sportschairs) 1 Bushy Slalom hybrid $2,000 (Spokes n Motion) $3,926 Shepherd Center, Inc Peachtree Road, NW Atlanta, GA $176,150,219 Gift and gas cards are needed for clients and volunteers. Most clients are at-risk older adults, including the homebound, who struggle to make ends meet. Gift cards help them pay for prescriptions, food and other essentials. Gas cards as an occasional thank-you gift to volunteers supports the delivery of more than 30,000 meals a year. Recreation equipment is needed to support Shepherd Center s Recreation Therapy program to improve physical, cognitive and social functioning in the process of recovery. A multi-court wheelchair provides the ability to participate in basketball, tennis and softball. A slalom hybrid ski will help individuals who waterski to advance to a competitive level

20 The Study Hall, Inc. Théâtre du Rêve 1 Manitowoc under-counter ice machine with 30 lb. storage bin, model $1, (ACityDiscount.com) 137 gift $25 (Walmart) $4, The Study Hall, Inc Crew Street Atlanta, GA $620,000 The Study Hall serves more than 100 lowincome Kindergarten through fifth grade students who attend five public elementary schools in Peoplestown and surrounding communities each year with quality after-school and summer programs. The vast majority of area children are reading behind their grade level. At The Study Hall they build academic and personal foundations for lifelong success. They complete homework and receive tutoring, have weekly literacy tutoring, participate in exercise and enrichment activities and receive a nutritious dinner each day. Transportation is provided from school and to the home. The Study Hall was founded in 1990 by Fr. Austin Ford. Over the past 12 months the elementary-age children attending The Study Hall have improved their academic performance and reading skills, taken part in daily exercise and health and wellness programs and participated in a variety of cultural and arts enrichment. Students also have learned about financial literacy and civic engagement. They planted a community garden and learned how to prepare fresh produce as part of a healthy diet. Swimming and golf lessons were part of the program as well. Three new program assessment tools were adopted for the coming year. An under-counter ice machine with storage bin will replace an ice machine that is not in good working order. Snacks and dinner are served daily because children are more successful in their studies when they receive nourishing food. Also, gift cards are needed to help the parents of the children buy groceries, school supplies, clothing and other necessities. Théâtre du Rêve is the only professional Francophone theater company in the United States, serving an audience that includes Atlanta s French-speaking population including immigrants from Morocco, Vietnam and Haiti as well as France who would not otherwise connect with the world of American theater. The organization collaborates internationally, bringing artists from Francophone countries and commissioning new works that have toured the U.S. and Europe. Théâtre du Rêve offers educational touring productions to engage young audiences and provides teacher s guides, as well as classes, summer camps and internships for college students. In the past year Théâtre du Rêve has partnered with the High Museum to provide free performances of Jardins des Tuileries Time Travel in conjunction with a High exhibition. SO COCO featured Atlanta and international artists in a multi-disciplinary event inspired by Coco Chanel. The Nearly New Play Festival brought international and American artists to work with more than 50 Atlanta artists, which led to a touring piece, Jane, the Fox and Me, addressing bullying behavior and the importance of empathy. Students from the Atlanta International School and Langston Hughes High School were involved in development. Technology and signage are needed to enhance productions and make the Théâtre du Rêve location more visible. Projected video and super-titles are integral to performances and a new MacBook Pro will replace an outdated, unreliable laptop. A Bluetooth projector will support touring productions and outdoor sandwich board signs will help newcomers locate the theater. (1) 13-inch MacBook Pro, 2.4GHz with Retina $1,499 (Apple Store) 2 A-frame outdoor sandwich board signs with 24x36 inch $ ( 1 BenQ Bluetooth projector Hdmi cable model BenQ W P 3D Home Theatre $ (Amazon.com) $2, Théâtre du Rêve P.O. Box Atlanta, GA $115,