Summer 2011 Changing the Lives of Area Children: The Measure of our Impact A teenage girl --- we’ll call her Jessica --came to our Temporary Shelter Program filled with anger and defiance. The teenage years are difficult for most kids but Jessica’s emotions and behaviors were extreme. Her angry outbursts and acts of aggression were tearing her family apart, causing her grades to plummet and resulting in numerous school suspensions. Jessica and her family did not have the resources to pay for counseling and didn’t really know where to turn. Initially Jessica didn’t want to talk with her therapist but once she discovered that her behavior wasn’t going to drive the therapist away, she slowly began to express her feelings. Jessica learned new ways to cope with her anger and how to express it in acceptable ways. The family reports great improvements at home and Jessica’s grades have improved as well. She wants to attend school now and is, therefore, trying hard to avoid suspensions. Jessica and her family have more work to do but they are now moving together in the right direction. In This Issue... 11 Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 Golf Tournament 2 Message from the Executive Director 3 Message from Board Chair 3 2010 Annual Report 4 The mission of St. Vincent Home for Children has always been focused on improving the lives of children. While the programs and services have kept pace with the changing needs of our community, we are proud to say that we truly are making a positive impact. Like most parents and grandparents, we too like to brag on our kids’ (and family) successes! Here is an overview of some of those successes: • In its first 9 months of operation, Back on Track: Parents & Kids Working Together, providing temporary shelter, individual & group counseling to kids 12 – 19 along with family counseling and case management services, kept 100% of those families together with no substantiated hotline reports. • 87.5% of Temporary Shelter youth achieved 90% or higher in school attendance as well as decreased aggression at home and at school. • 75% of Temporary Shelter youth continued on next page Golf Tournament Kookin’ for Kids Reaching Kids in New & Different Ways Calendar of Events Arts Education 5 5 6 7 8 1 New Officers and Trustees As stewards of our mission, the Trustees of St. Vincent Home for Children provide strategic direction, advice and counsel, as well as financial oversight. As ambassadors in the community, they share the successes of our programs and invite others to join us in our effort to give the best possible care to our children and families. We are incredibly grateful to the board for all the special ways they share their time, talent and treasure with the Home. We are pleased to announce the following officers for 2011: Board Chair: Robert G. Schurwan, Enterprise Fleet Management Board Vice-Chair: Rachael Keller Brown, Pelopidas, LLC Board Treasurer: Kelly Flanigan, The Doe Run Company Board Secretary: Louise Reeves, L. Reeves and Associates President of the German St. Vincent Orphan Association: Marie Furrer Vice President of the German St. Vincent Orphan Association: Leslie Farr Newly elected to the board for 2011 are: Rachel Keller Brown and Kurt Emshousen We also acknowledge with gratitude the service of the following Retiring Trustees: Maria Torrez, Mike Taylor, Tasha Pettis Bonds, and Rodney Boyd 2 continued from page 1 improved their relationships with family and peers. • Based on standardized test scores, 80% of the students attending St. Vincent School increased their math and reading scores by at least 1½ grade levels this year. One student raised his math scores by nearly 6 grade levels and another raised his reading scores by 3½ grade levels! • Five students graduated from St. Vincent School this year --- setting a great example and providing motivation for their fellow classmates to follow in their footsteps. This is a huge achievement for students who were previously headed down the wrong path. • Our Residential Treatment Program saw 65% of youth move to a less restrictive environment like home, relatives, or a foster family. 71% of youth in Residential Treatment demonstrated improvement in their social and behavioral skills with a decline in signs and symptoms that were barriers to mentally healthy functioning. • Nearly 99% of families served by SMART Parenting, a home-based program serving pregnant moms and parents with young children, had no substantiated hotline reports and no out-of-home placements. 72% of parents developed friendships with others and reduced feelings of isolation, a risk factor for child abuse and neglect. If you would like to learn more about our programs and services and how you can be a part of changing the life of a child, please contact Lee Ann Taylor, Executive Director, at 314261-6011 ext. 139 or Cristina Garcia, Development Coordinator, at ext. 124. Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 Hosts Golf Tournament The Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 hosted their annual golf tournament at Glen Echo Country Club in May 2011 benefiting St. Vincent Home for Children. Over the past sixteen years, the Sheet Metal Workers have donated over $200,000 to support our important work with children and families. We are so grateful for their continued support! “Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 are truly wonderful friends who continue to support our work with kids despite the down economy” said Lee Ann Taylor, Executive Director. Message from the Executive Director I hope you are enjoying the summer weather. We have experienced some catastrophic tornadoes in our area over the last several months. We have been truly blessed that no lives were lost in the St. Louis area. Anyone who Lee Ann Taylor experienced loss of power or damage from these storms has undoubtedly been faced with unfamiliar chaos and lots of stress. I’m reminded of the chaotic lives that many of our children have come from --- perhaps not having enough to eat or not knowing where they were going to sleep --- or whether violence would be a part of their day. It is so easy for most of us to take for granted that we will have our basic needs met, live without violence touching our lives, and be able to get the extra things that make us more comfortable. At St. Vincent Home for Children, we provide treatment to help kids heal from the abuse, neglect, violence, and chaos that often has been present in their lives. We offer them therapy to gain new perspective, new decision-making skills, and the hope that a better tomorrow is possible for each of them. I hope you have taken the time to read about the positive impact we are having through our programs and services. This impact not only helps the individual kids and families but also creates a better community for all of us. I encourage you to take time to stop and count your blessings --- hug your children and grandchildren recognizing that family and friends are our most important treasures. If you want to make a difference in the life of someone else’s child or grandchild, please consider a gift to St. Vincent Home for Children. Our donors and supporters are truly partners in our work! Lee Ann Taylor Executive Director Message from the Board Chair Even as our economy continues to struggle to recover from one of the most difficult challenges in our nation’s history, I am proud to say that the St. Vincent Home for Children is still going strong thanks Bob Schurwan to your generous support. Among other things, your generosity has allowed us to further enhance our program development to better educate and care for our children and their families. It has also provided our staff the opportunity to continue to work diligently on our many on-going initiatives such as our successful Temporary Shelter program. With that being said, the unfortunate fact still remains that there is a real need in our community for us to persist with our mission. It is because of that need we have had to broaden our appeal base to ensure the sustainability of the Home to make a real and powerful difference in our community. While I’ve been a board member for only a couple of years, my experience with the St. Vincent Home for Children dates back to the early 1970’s. The father of a close friend was orphaned as a boy and raised to young adulthood in the Home. My friend and I could easily see in his father the values instilled in him and the great deal of respect and gratitude he felt for the Home. As a result of his father’s personal experience, my friend and I became very involved with the Home at an early age. We often volunteered to help with fund-raising events for the Home, such as picnics and basketball tournaments. We even regularly volunteered to help with the general maintenance and upkeep on the building and the grounds. In those days the Home was a Catholic organization. I must say one of the greatest highlights of the year for me was Christmas Eve Mass at St. Vincent with my family. I can remember fondly marveling at the beauty of the chapel and the splendor of the Christmas decorations. Adding to those fond memories is the high school graduation I attended at the Home earlier this year. It was a very special moment seeing the excitement and sense of pride and self accomplishment on the faces of the five young men who achieved their diplomas as a result of all of their hard work. As I continue to reflect on all of my many wonderful memories surrounding the Home, I have come to realize that even with all of the changes throughout the years, from the day the doors were opened all those years ago, right up to the present time, the mission has remained the same. St. Vincent Home for Children is crucial in educating and changing the lives of troubled kids and families for the better. This is the reason St. Vincent is so endearing to me and I am proud to be a part of this wonderful organization. Robert G. Schurwan 3 Board Chair St. Vincent Home for Children Chair Robert G. Schurwan Vice Chair Rachael Keller Brown Treasurer Kelly Flanigan Recording Secretary Louise Reeves Trustees Natalie Alberici John R. Chickey Rich Chrismer Marie Dargan Kurt Emshousen Mary Ann Eultgen, SCC Thomas J. Lovinguth Byron A. Marshall Richard Poehling Rocky Rhodes Daniel F. Ryan Rex Sinquefield Bill Wilkerson Association President Marie Furrer Association Vice-President Leslie Farr Executive Director Lee Ann Taylor Our Mission is to provide love, security and professional treatment for troubled children and their families through a fully integrated program of services. Serving St. Louis children in need since 1850. 4 2010 Annual Report Program & Financial Highlights As part of our stewardship responsibilities, we are pleased to provide 2010 program and financial information in this 2010 Annual Report. The information in this Annual Report is provided to demonstrate our gratitude to all of our supporters and our continuing commitment to sound financial stewardship. Management assumes full responsibility for the completeness and reliability of all information provided in this report. Program Highlights: Financial Highlights: • The St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund awarded us contracts for three new programs serving St. Louis County youth and their families: Temporary Shelter, Respite Care, and SMART Parenting. Revenues • St. Vincent School expanded services to include three Illinois school districts: Collinsville, East St. Louis, and Cahokia. Program Fees $1,342,505 Program Services Fundraising $ 707,035 Management & General $ 242,381 United Way $ 144,311 Fundraising Other $ 227,546 TOTAL: $2,421,397 $2,706,361 $ 228,394 $3,177,136 $2, 829,051 Revenue: • Kookin’ for Kids, the agency’s largest fundraiser, moved to the Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet which proved to be a great venue for this event. • St. Vincent Home for Children became a Better Business Bureau accredited charity meeting all of their standards of quality. TOTAL: End of Year Net Assets: • The agency completed a Strategic Planning process and approved the 2011-2013 Strategic Plan to provide guidance and direction going forward. • The agency continued to attract a large number of volunteers to help support our mission. In 2010, over 1,000 volunteers helped with a variety of individual and group projects. Expenditures Expenditures: 13th Annual Golf for Children Tournament This year’s 13th Annual Golf for Children Tournament, held at Glen Echo Country Club on June 6, 2011, was a resounding success. Co-chairs Natalie Alberici and Jim Hull enjoyed a wonderful day of friendly competition on an outstanding golf course. Greeted by staff and volunteers, players signed in to goodie bags filled with P ho to SVHC golfer’s towels, coupons, snacks, cups, etc. and purchased mulligans by B l ac kTi and raffle tickets from Rams cheerleaders. Players then enjoyed a nice lunch before e -M is so the shotgun start at noon. We had more foursomes this year and the pace of play was ur i remarkable considering the heat. Many thanks to Al Hrabosky and Mike Matheny for joining us for the day. After golf, players enjoyed a wonderful dinner prepared by Chef Rob, a silent auction, and the opportunity to bid on a limited number of great live and silent auction items. This year’s 20th Annual Golf for Children Tournament raised nearly $40,000 for St. Vincent Home for Children. SVHC would like to thank the committee members, our generous sponsors, auction donors, volunteers, players and everyone that participated in making the Golf Tournament a success. Kookin’ for Kids - Don’t Miss this Night of Divine Dining! Co-chairs Marie Furrer, Barb Behlmann and Jennifer Schaefer and the entire 2011 Kookin’ for Kids Committee invite you to our biggest event of the year. Join us for a night of superb food, outstanding musical entertainment, fun celebrity servers, and exciting auction items! This year’s 20th Annual Kookin’ for Kids will be held on Sunday, August 21 at the Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet. Last year’s event raised over $90,000 -- providing vital funding to support the needs of the children at St. Vincent’s. We are truly grateful for the faithful support of our participating restaurants, celebrity servers, generous guests and auction donors. Your donations of time, talent, and financial support help us to achieve our mission of providing hope and renewal to those that depend on us. For more information, please contact Cristina Garcia (314) 261-6011, ext. 124, or email: [email protected]. Register online today at www.saintvincenthome.org. Tickets are $75 or $750 for a table of 10. All tables must be reserved in advance. 5 Reaching Kids in New & Different Ways: Non-Traditional Therapies That Work Augmenting traditional counseling, kids at St. Vincent Home for Children in Residential Treatment and our Shelter programs are reaping the benefits from some non-traditional treatment approaches. Our array of services includes Art Therapy, Arts Mentoring, and Violence Prevention. Trish Heiser, LPC offers a fun and creative forum of expression through art therapy. Larry Perlmutter, Executive Director of Viva Vox, provides a variety of different art workshops as well as matching artists with youth in a mentoring role. These programs allow our kids to increase their self esteem and express themselves far beyond what they are typically willing to do with traditional counseling. RAVEN (Rape and Violence End Now), an organization that traditionally served adults, has adapted their curriculum to provide anger management and violence prevention groups tailored to adolescent males and females. We are incredibly grateful to the Daughters of Charity Foundation of St. Louis, Dana Brown Charitable Trust, St. Louis Variety, and the Boeing Employees Community Fund for their financial support of these services! We truly value their partnership with us in making a difference! f h Planned Giving: Leaving a Living Legacy Many of us are committed to giving back to the community. We do that through volunteering our time and talent as well as making charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations whose missions fit with helping individuals or causes that we care and feel passionate about. Whether we have modest means or considerable wealth, most Americans participate in charitable giving in some form. At some point in life, most people begin to think about how they want to distribute their estate --- be it large or small --- so that they can direct their assets in a meaningful way. 6 Developing this plan can be quite empowering as it gives people the opportunity to plan their “living legacy” and to ensure that they can continue to support charitable causes after their death. There are both simple and complex ways to do this. If you believe in the work of St. Vincent Home for Children and would like to join us in changing the lives of area children through planned giving, please contact Lee Ann Taylor at 314261-6011 ext. 139 or Cristina Garcia at ext. 124. We would be happy to speak with you and connect you with someone who can help with your estate planning needs. d Monsantogether In 2010, Monsanto introduced Monsantogether, a program that supports personal charitable involvement by their employees and encourages them to volunteer in their communities. On April 14, 2011, St. Vincent Home for Children Executive Director Lee Ann Taylor joined 11 other nonprofit organizations in the St. Louis area that were recognized for logging more than 100 Monsanto employee volunteer hours in 2010. The Volunteer Recognition Breakfast was held by the Monsanto Fund and included Deborah Patterson, President of the Monsanto Fund, Jan Holloway, Chief of Staff and Community Relations for Monsanto, and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley. St. Vincent’s received $2,750 due to the large number of volunteer hours logged by Monsanto employees. Thank you, Monsanto, for honoring us, and for your employee’s generous volunteer hours! Congratulations to our 2011 Graduates! Calendar of Events August 21, 2011 20th Annual Kookin’ for Kids November 12, 2011 Fall Trivia Night December 8, 2011 Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield’s Annual Christmas Party Visit our website: www.saintvincenthome.org for other events! On May 12, 2011, five of our students graduated from St. Vincent School. The celebration marked the accomplishments of these students and set a great example for their peers to follow in their footsteps. Words of wisdom and encouragement at the graduation were provided by St. Vincent Board Chair, Bob Schurwan and Executive Director, Lee Ann Taylor. Students and staff continued the celebration with a catered lunch following the graduation ceremony generously provided by Tony Lonero and his staff. Many thanks to Tony for this great lunch and all the great food he delivers at various times throughout the year! We are a proud member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis. Please support the United Way Campaign. 7 Arts Education for St. Vincent’s Residents The arts are enriched with the things children need to succeed. Just like kids need to have good nutrition on a daily basis, kids need to have the arts in their lives as well. Studies have shown that involvement in the arts helps children increase test scores and promotes academic achievement. Kids who are involved in the arts are: • 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement • 3 times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools • 4 times more likely to participate in math and science fairs • 3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance This spring, 12 SVHC residents participated in a project with Viva Vox, an organization that provides arts mentoring services to “at-risk” youth in order to promote self discovery, positive personal growth, and to impact social change. The kids enjoyed 4 weeks of workshops, most of which were held in the art room at St. Vincent’s. Additionally, the girls were able to go to Kruger Pottery in Webster Groves and throw on the wheel. Throughout this process they learned many things about art and, most importantly, about themselves. One resident said, “This is the best thing in art I’ve ever done.” The children had the opportunity to talk with the instructor, ask questions, and learned how they could possibly make extra money or a career in the arts. Viva Vox has been an integral part of our treatment services for many years. A special thanks to Kruger Pottery for all of their support! St. Vincent Home for Children 7401 Florissant Road St. Louis, MO 63121-4835 Address service requested Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID St. Louis, MO Permit No. 6412