Bethesda Lutheran Communities
Volume 108, Issue 1 | Spring 2017
2015-16 BETHESDA ANNUAL REPORT
TOGETHER WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
2
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
—Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
For over 112 years, Bethesda Lutheran Communities has dedicated its work solely on enhancing the lives of people with disabilities through services that share the good news of Jesus Christ. This was the mission on day one and our mission today. Nothing inspires me more than seeing and feeling the difference a dedicated group can make in the lives of people with disabilities. As we continue the good work accomplished, it’s important to recognize that our service areas are constantly evolving to reflect the needs of the people and families we support. Bethesda genuinely understands the important need to focus our services on creating opportunities for independence in the lives of people with disabilities. We rejoice in the progress our society has made in welcoming people with disabilities into a greater level of inclusion. In fact, many of our services have transitioned and responded to this enthusiasm in ways that would have been unthinkable even 10 years ago. Our top priority will always be ensuring that the people we support are living the lives they want. If you are reading this, then I can assume you are a person invested in the ministry of service to people with disabilities. You are integral to the mission of Bethesda! Let’s start at the most important part – your belief and trust in Jesus Christ’s presence in this work. The accomplishments that you have fostered at Bethesda flow from a Christian approach to service and stimulate a real difference in the life of a person with disabilities. Thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement. I speak for the entire organization when I thank you for your continued investment in our mission. Together we can celebrate, because together we continue to strive for a deeper and more holistic life for people with disabilities. I hope and pray that you are as excited as I am to be part of Bethesda’s future and that what you encounter in this annual report will inspire you to make a donation, volunteer at a group home, or even pray for people with disabilities. In big and small ways, we all participate in doing God’s work. In His Service,
Mike Thirtle President and CEO
Bethesda is a Christian organization that provides homes and other services for people with developmental disabilities to help them live the lives they want.
3
CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH SHARES ITS BLESSINGS 4
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.”
—Acts 4:32 NIV
Partnerships with pastors and congregations have sustained Bethesda’s work since 1904. In fact, most people first learned about Bethesda from their home parish community. Without these congregational relationships, we could not make a significant impact in the field of intellectual and development disability services. This past year, Calvary Lutheran Church in Burien, Washington, chose Bethesda as a partner in its giving plans. The congregation’s leadership made a committed decision to share the resources of the church with an organization dedicated to disability ministry. Their goal was to make a gift that would last for many years and create a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Bethesda’s mission to enhance the lives of people with disabilities through services that share the good news of Jesus Christ was paramount to the parish leadership in ensuring that these funds would be designated to advance a spiritual component. “Our congregation knew that it could make a much bigger change for people with disabilities by working with an organization like Bethesda than it could alone,” said Rev. Paul Winterstein. “Together, we’re helping people with disabilities live the lives they want.” The ability to share a gift that would continue to spread the Word of God to the faithful was achieved. With tremendous thanksgiving, Bethesda understood the importance of using this gift primarily for the spiritual enrichment of people with disabilities. It was the perfect partnership that met the wishes of Calvary Lutheran Church. Congregational gifts allow Bethesda to provide Christian resources, like Bibles and catechisms, to the people we support. These resources are never reimbursed by government funding and are essential tools for instructing people with disabilities about the Christian faith. Is your congregation looking for outreach initiatives in the community? Is the Lord calling your church to bring the Gospel message to people with disabilities? We would be blessed to show you the good work that awaits.
Congregational partnerships are an essential aspect in Bethesda’s mission to enhance the lives of people with disabilities. Learn more about how congregations can partner with Bethesda at BethesdaLutheranCommunities.org/Congregations.
5
TRENTON FINDS THE CHRIST CONNECTION Seeing is believing! Watch Trenton recount his baptism and transformation. Visit BethesdaLutheranCommunities.org/ Trenton-Finds-Christ-Connection.
6
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
—Psalm 51:10 NIV
Many people with disabilities will never know the love of Jesus Christ. But Trenton’s story is different. Trenton is a man with developmental disabilities who Bethesda supports in Maryville, Missouri. Before Trenton moved into a Bethesda group home, he didn’t know who Christ was. He was angry and destructive; he threw things at walls, shattered bottles and broke windows in his home. He didn’t know where, or who, to turn to. But, when Trenton’s housemates at Bethesda invited him to Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, everything changed. He developed an interest in church and the Bible. He decided he wanted to be baptized. With assistance from David Sukolics, a Bethesda Ministry Consultant, Trenton achieved his goal. “When they sprinkled water on my head, they baptized me,” Trenton said. “I feel like my sin has been washed away.” Finding faith helped Trenton find peace and strength. He learned how to deal with his anger when he read devotions and prayed. Trenton found the comfort he had been looking for; he found God. “Trenton’s faith has given him a different outlook,” David said. “He’s a lot gentler than he used to be.” People with disabilities can and should make their own decisions. For Trenton, he became involved in his local church, was baptized, and, eventually, confirmed. Without the generous gifts from our donors, Trenton would not have been able to. Faith Supports are not covered by federal funding; Bethesda relies on donors to support our Christian mission to provide services to people with disabilities that share the good news of Jesus Christ. “Now that I’m a Lutheran, I can rely on God,” Trenton said. “I can let go of the past. I can be at peace because I know my sins can be washed away through the blood of my Lord and Savior.” God had people in place, including Bethesda and our donors, to help Trenton. Will you get involved?
Your support of Bethesda can help more people with developmental disabilities know the love of Jesus Christ. Donate to Bethesda to help a person with disabilities know the love of Christ and be saved. Visit BethesdaLutheranCommunities.org/Donate, today.
7
IN THE SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY
8
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
—Matthew 25:40 NIV
The care and support of people with disabilities is a vocation that requires commitment, dedication and a willingness to get your hands dirty. Since the 1950s, the Bethesda Auxiliary has responded to this call of service. It’s not unusual to see Auxiliary members washing windows, scrubbing floors, canning food and organizing projects that directly benefit the people Bethesda supports. With extraordinary faithfulness, the Bethesda Auxiliary has been present to fulfill any need required. It’s a passion for the people that drives their generosity. For almost 70 years, the Bethesda Auxiliary embraced their mission of reaching forward in faith, word and deed by sharing the love of Jesus with people who have disabilities. With more than 3,400 members, these prayer warriors who make up the Bethesda Auxiliary understand the sacrifices required to ensure that people with disabilities are afforded the best life possible. Bethesda rejoices in this long-time partnership and celebrates the accomplishments achieved in bringing the love of Christ to those craving God’s goodness. It is with profound appreciation and gratitude that Bethesda recognizes the work of so many Auxiliary members who tirelessly advocate and pray for a greater mindfulness of those with disabilities. Is the Lord calling you to become a member of the Bethesda Auxiliary? Karen Carter, Bethesda Auxiliary President, recognizes that their work is profoundly grounded in the Lord’s will. Throughout the years, God’s loving direction has put leaders in place that have allowed the Auxiliary to partner completely in the work of service to people with disabilities. “The Lord has the vision, we pray for the guidance that we follow His will entirely,” said Karen Carter. Becoming a member of the Bethesda Auxiliary is another powerful way to give back and be present for people with disabilities. The opportunities to make a difference are vast and there’s much work to be done. Nothing compares to seeing the smiling faces of people enlivened by the Gospel. Your participation would be an extraordinary blessing. Over the years, the Auxiliary weathered many changes, but their spirit of generosity has never been broken. To date, the Bethesda Auxiliary has contributed over $8.5 million dollars and hundreds of thousands in volunteer hours to sustain the powerful purpose of bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to those with disabilities.
Interested in learning more about the Bethesda Auxiliary? Looking for opportunities to make an impact in the lives of people with disabilities? Prayerfully consider joining the Bethesda Auxiliary and embrace a call that will enrich the lives of many! For more information, please contact Karen Carter, Bethesda Auxiliary President, at Karen.Carter@mailblc.org or by phone at 608-864-3310. 9
BETHESDA SERVICES TODAY Just as it always has been for more than a century, our story is your story – because it is you, our donors, who allow Bethesda to make a difference every day in the lives of people with disabilities. Quite simply, Bethesda would not exist without your support, and we certainly could not advance our organization without your support. Indeed, in 2017, Bethesda continues to move forward as we look to evolve our spectrum of services to reflect the needs of the people and families we support. Based on feedback we have received from them, they expect services that, most importantly, promote independence and community inclusion. Bethesda’s shared living program and employment support services are two examples of our offerings that exemplify the level of self-direction and choice that parents, guardians and the people we support seek. These programs will be expanded and other new services will be offered as Bethesda continues to serve as a change agent, and implements 2016 forward-thinking solutions that both meet the needs of people with developmental disabilities and ensure the economic balance needed to sustain Cost per person Bethesda supports Bethesda’s mission for the future. This evolution means there have been and will be changes to Bethesda’s services, some involving hard but necessary choices. Now more than ever, it is imperative that the Bethesda Foundation is strong and allows us to fulfill an evolving but clear need. In these tough economic times, the Bethesda Foundation has been used to fund the 26% funding gap (equal to $18,000 per person served). The gap reflects the rising costs of quality of care that outpace government-funded assistance. The draw down in the foundation significantly impacts our future and current service offerings. Your donations give us stability and flexibility as we position ourselves at the forefront of intellectual and developmental disability service providers.
Government Funding Funding Gap
Total Cost 66%
Funding Gap
“At Bethesda, ensuring the people we support are living the lives they want has always been our top priority,” says Mike Thirtle, Bethesda’s president and CEO. “As their needs, and the needs of those we hope to support in the future change, we must change as well.”
BETHESDA BOARD AND DIRECTORS
34% 8%
26%
Generous Donors Bethesda Foundation
Dr. F. Paul Carlson
Catherine Brondos
Norman D. Sell
Thomas F. McRae
Bethesda Communities Board Chair Bethesda Foundation Board Chairman Bethesda Communities Treasurer
Dr. Virginia Miller
Bethesda Communities Vice Chair
Frederick D. Mundt
Bethesda Foundation Vice Chair
10
34%
Bethesda Communities Secretary Bethesda Foundation Secretary
Dr. Roger L. Burtner
Bethesda Foundation Treasurer
Karen Carter
Auxiliary Advisory Director
SERVICE TREND FOR TOMORROW By focusing on these desired services that enhance independence and integrated community living, we 80% 16% are able to reduce the daily per person cost for the people we support and also reach more people. With Desiredmore fruitful: it goes further and helps more people. this approach, your donation is ultimately
4%
IDD Services
da supports
Independent 80%
Group 16% Homes 4%
24/7 Support
Desired IDD Services Independent
34%
At Bethesda, 4% ensuring the 26% people we support are living the lives ous Donors they want has always been our da Foundation top priority.
Bethesda
Mike Thirtle Present
Bethesda President and CEO
Bethesda Future Rev. Quinten A. Buechner David M. Kahle Ardis Loeber Deaconess Tiffany Manor Kurt D. Rutzen Dr. David C. Thomas Rev. Ryan Tietz
Group Homes
24/7 Support
This transformation of our services allows us to extend our mission as we impact more lives in more communities. It also will lead to real progress as greater acceptance and more diverse opportunities continue to break down limits for people with developmental disabilities. Bethesda, with our donors’ essential support, will be there to facilitate this advancement.
Your donation
# of people reached
Bethesda Present # of people Your reached donation Bethesda Future
$
$
$
There are people where you live waiting for Bethesda as we shift our services, but we cannot grow quickly enough to meet their needs without your support now. Go to BethesdaLutheranCommunities.org/Donate today to help Bethesda push forward.
$
Called to our mission through faith and inspired each day by the success of the people we support, our board of directors establishes the legal and ethical policies that govern our organization and ensure our future. 11
WHICH GIFT IS RIGHT FOR YOU? 1. STOCK AND REAL ESTATE Did you know that you can make a gift to Bethesda of appreciated stock or real estate? Why would you do that? Well, the benefits to you are many. You would receive an immediate tax deduction and you eliminate a portion of your capital gains tax from appreciated stock or real estate. A long-time donor from Wisconsin believes in the win-win effect of making a gift of real estate to Bethesda. “My gift of real estate to Bethesda created a planned giving option that pays me income for life. I know that when the Lord takes me to Heaven, Bethesda will benefit from the remaining portion of my gift. This type of gift allows me to support Bethesda now and into the future. People with disabilities are ultimately the real winners. Without Bethesda, who would bring people with disabilities the good news of Jesus Christ?” Say you plan to donate $2,000 to Bethesda. You can donate cash and receive your tax deduction straight up. But what if you also have some appreciating shares of stock that you want to sell for profit? You bought them 10 years ago for $1,000, and now they are worth $2,000. If you simply sell the shares, you have a capital gain of $1,000. If you fall into a tax bracket where you pay the 15% capital gains tax rate, you will owe $150 in taxes on that gain. That tax bill will partially offset any benefit you received from donating cash to Bethesda. But what if, instead of donating cash, you donate the stock? You keep that $2,000 would-be donation in your bank account (leaving it free for use however you want – even reinvesting), and you transfer ownership of the shares to Bethesda. You get to claim the entire $2,000 as a deduction on your taxes, but you don’t have to pay any capital gains tax. 12
2. RECURRING GIFTS Did you know that you can support Bethesda’s mission by setting up a scheduled recurring gift? We are blessed that many of our donors remember Bethesda in their charitable giving plans by sending in donations throughout the year. These recurring gifts from our donors are an excellent way for Bethesda to plan programming initiatives and designate funds towards certain budgetary needs. When making a gift online through Bethesda’s website, there’s an easy option available that allows a donor to choose “Make this a recurring gift.” When you select this option, you have the choice of setting up a secure gift to Bethesda that can occur weekly, monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually. With a recurring gift, you don’t have to worry about remembering the last time you donated to Bethesda. In fact, once you set up the recurring gift option, your gift will be made through your credit card at the times you designate. Our donors love this way of making gifts. Nancy Hall, a generous Bethesda donor from California, loves the online recurring gift option to Bethesda. “I know that my monthly gift to Bethesda is something that the organization can count on, especially when Bethesda is planning its Religious Life schedule and programs, which I enjoy giving towards. The recurring gift option is simple to set up. I believe in Bethesda and the work it does. It’s wonderful to know that I am making a difference each month in the lives of people with disabilities,” explained Nancy. Many people tell us that they prefer using their credit cards because they can make a gift to Bethesda and earn credit card rewards points at the same time.
PEOPLE CHOOSE TO SUPPORT BETHESDA IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. HERE’S A LOOK AT 4 EXAMPLES THAT SHOWCASE GIVING OPPORTUNITIES TO BETHESDA.
3.
4.
CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY
VEHICLE DONATION
Looking to make a gift that will pay you back? When you create a charitable gift annuity with Bethesda, you obtain a dependable method for receiving a high payment rate on your gift, you enjoy an immediate tax benefit and you support Bethesda all at the same time. So, how does a gift annuity work and why do Bethesda’s donors love them?
Did you know that your old vehicle can be turned into a charitable donation to Bethesda? The process is as simple as making a phone call. Almost any vehicle – car, truck, motorcycle, boat, etc. – can be used to make a tax deductible donation to Bethesda.
• A gift annuity is a contract between Bethesda and you, where Bethesda agrees to pay you a fixed payment for life, based on the amount contributed and your age at the time of the gift. • A gift annuity offers you income tax and estate tax benefits, and when funded with transfers of stock, capital gains tax benefits. • Gift annuities are not insurance. • When the gift annuity beneficiary (you, the donor) goes to Heaven, money left in the gift annuity goes directly to Bethesda to continue our mission. Bethesda has been setting up gift annuities with our donors for a very long time. Doris Schuetz, a longtime Bethesda donor from Illinois, remarked: “A charitable gift annuity is the perfect option for me. I receive income from my donation and help Bethesda at the same time.” If you are looking for an investment that will pay you an exceptional rate of return, a gift that will provide you with generous tax benefits and a reliable way to support Bethesda, then perhaps a charitable gift annuity is perfect for you.
When you call Bethesda’s toll-free 24/7 vehicle donation line (1-800-269-6814) you will speak to a representative who will walk you through the process of donating your vehicle. Our donation partner, Insurance Auto Auctions (IAA), will pick up your vehicle from your home, sell your vehicle and distribute the revenue to Bethesda. You will receive an acknowledgment letter that can be used as a receipt for tax deduction purposes, along with additional tax documents confirming the sale of your vehicle. Bethesda will use the revenue from the sale of your vehicle to support our mission of enhancing the lives of people with disabilities through services that share the good news of Jesus Christ. The process is amazingly easy and Bethesda donors have celebrated this new opportunity to support Bethesda, while at the same time, getting rid of that old vehicle and earning a tax deduction. Allen O’Bannon, a Bethesda donor from Minnesota, explained: “Donating my vehicle to Bethesda was such an easy process. I’m thrilled that my old car could be used to support people with disabilities. The best part…from start to finish there was no cost to me.”
We would love to speak with you more about any of the gift types mentioned and explain the many additional ways you can support Bethesda. Please contact Jedd Lapid, Vice President of Development, at 920-206-4410 or by email at Jedd.Lapid@mailblc.org. 13
Bethesda Christmas Shops are a Success! This year, Bethesda opened up a third Bethesda Christmas Shop in Watertown, Wisconsin. The shop is one of three seasonal Bethesda Christmas Shops. The other two are located in Horicon, and Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. Bethesda has begun to open up more Christmas Shops in order to celebrate during the Christmas season. The shops enhance our mission to support people with disabilities through services that share the good news of Jesus Christ. The Bethesda Christmas Shop in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, has a unique trait. This year, the shop celebrated its two-year anniversary as a 100 percent volunteer-run business. Volunteers at this Thrift Shop alone gave 17,429.5 hours of their time over the 2015-16 fiscal year.
BETHESDA VOLUNTEERS ARE VITAL TO OUR SUCCESS.
The Bethesda Christmas Shops are a huge success. Aside from 68 percent of the Christmas Shops’ gross income being profit, they also host an opportunity for disability employment. Five people with developmental disabilities were hired at the Watertown shop, and supported through Bethesda’s Employment Services. Next Christmas season, you can volunteer or donate to our Christmas Shops to support our mission. We also take Christmas donations year-round.
Join Bethesda’s Home Heroes Program Home Heroes is a national community service program connecting people to volunteer opportunities with the people Bethesda supports. As Home Heroes, volunteers get to know the people we support, bond over shared interests and participate in community outings. In doing so, Home Heroes help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live the lives they want. Emily Young, who retired as a Bethesda Direct Support Professional after 42 years in Watertown, Wisconsin, became a Home Hero to stay in touch with the people she supported for years. One of her favorite aspects is when people with disabilities she supported for years recognize her and get excited to see her. This makes her feel happy and fulfilled. “I was concerned about volunteering at my age,” Emily said. “However, I was able to find an easy way to help out—I go with them to church and chaperone people with disabilities to important appointments.” There are still many more people with disabilities waiting for support from their community members. The only thing missing is you! Help Bethesda extend God’s love by making a positive difference in the lives of people within your community.
To volunteer, contact Kirsten Whitsitt, Director of Volunteer Services, 920-262-6515 or Kirsten.Whitsitt@mailblc.org. 14
GROUP SHOT
BETHESDA LEADERSHIP Mike Thirtle
President and Chief Executive Officer
Jeff Kaczmarski
Dave Griebl
Chief Financial Officer
Kimberly Trombley
Vice President of Religious Life
Executive Vice President and Vice President of Legal Affairs
Jennifer Becher Mike Klimkosky
Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Development
Chief Information and Project Management Officer
Jedd Lapid Lori Anderson
Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Residential Services
Vice President of Development
Julie Timm
Vice President of Marketing and Communications
15
600 Hoffmann Drive Watertown, WI 53094-6204
Electronic Service Requested
WHY YOU GIVE
TO BETHESDA... to help those in need. WITH GOD'S GRACE. the Lord has blessed us and we want to pass on a blessing.
the Lord placed it on my heart.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY.
We are all God's children and need to treat each other fairly.
Bethesda is a wonderful example of sharing the love and compassion of Christ, and it is an honor to help them in that effort.
Bethesda nurtures people with disabilities in a very spiritual and religious way that other organizations don't. You bring the Good News of God's Love in Christ to those often neglected or overlooked by others.
TO CELEBRATE EMPOWERMENT! to show the love of Christ to others as He has shown to us. TO HELP CHRISTIANS IN NEED. It's a way that our youth group can give back to the community.
because God has truly blessed my family.