CONNECT | June/July 2013

connect T H E

C O A L I T I ON

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J U N E / J U L Y

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LET US SAY

* thank you

in this i ssue

CARL’S STORY | TASTE OF THE NATION YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK | SUMMER AT THE COALITION

FROM OUR

family TO YOURS The recent tornadoes that ravaged parts of our country have captured our attention and beckoned our compassion. Our hearts go out to those affected by this tragedy. If there is any comfort, it is in knowing that people are always there to help when others are experiencing such a crisis.

PLEASE KNOW THAT

YOU MAKE

WHAT WE DO POSSIBLE.

Central Florida is no different.

When one considers the myriad things that you, our supporters, have done for Coalition for the Homeless in the past few months, I am energized by your willingness to give time, talent, and resources to those who are experiencing a crisis not much different than the aftermath of the recent disasters…the crisis of homelessness.

You raised over $75,000 at the Annual Doug Spencer Golf Challenge, renovated one of our First Steps transitional apartments, and refurbished the main campus kitchen/dining room. You continued to support our new Men’s Service Center and Women in Philanthropy initiatives, provided meals for hundreds of residents, and so much more.

Let me say thank you. It sounds so trite, so simple, so cliché; but it is very, very sincere. As you click through this issue of CONNECT, please know that YOU make what we do possible.

We are indeed grateful.

Sincerely,

donate Brent Trotter President/CEO

now

A TRANSFORMED LIFE

thanks to you

watch the video Carl shares his story of losing everything to drug addiction and the road that led him to the Coalition’s First Steps Program.

Your donations help transform the lives of men like Carl every day.

YOUTUBE.COM/COALITIONFORHOMELESS

HAVING FUN &

making a difference

read our blog

17TH ANNUAL DOUG SPENCER GOLF CHALLENGE Twenty-nine golfers dedicated a day of marathon putting and driving skills on Friday, April 19, 2013, raising over $75,000 to benefit the Coalition.

>> KNOW YOUR IMPACT >> Providing food, shelter and services to 66 homeless children costs >> $1,000 a day.

TASTE OF THE NATION ORLANDO AUGUST 10, 2013

Taste of the Nation Orlando is a highly anticipated foodie event that brings Central Florida’s top chefs together for one great cause – ending childhood hunger in America.

Last year, you raised over $200,000. As one of the event’s beneficiaries, the Coalition was able to better provide for the hundreds of homeless youngsters we serve every day.

Let’s make this year’s Taste of the Nation Orlando even better than the last. If you believe that no child in America should go hungry, join us on August 10, 2013!

>> GET TICKETS >> shareourstrength.org/orlando

a

more than a meal

JUNE 11, 2013

Because of you, lives like Carl’s (see Page 3) are transformed at the Coalition every day. Come see your impact firsthand at our next More than a Meal informational session, where you’ll enjoy a light lunch and tour of our main campus.

giving back

By serving meals to the homeless women and children at the Women’s Residential and Counseling Center (WRCC), eighthgrader Annie Richardson and her family don’t just fill our residents’ bellies with a nutritious meal. This wonderful family gives the single women and moms at WRCC one less thing to worry about – where their next meal will come from – while they diligently work toward self-sufficiency. Annie and her family provide a sense of reassurance to the WRCC residents far beyond the food they serve.

Just last week, ambitious Annie received the President’s Volunteer Service Award in recognition of her service to the community. Below are some excerpts from an essay she wrote about her experiences volunteering.

For the past three years my family has served food to about 100 women and children at the Coalition for the Homeless Women’s Residential Counseling Center in downtown Orlando. This center is a safe place for [homeless women and moms with children, some of whom are] victims of crime, to live while they work towards getting their life back on track.

We started out serving on the second Thursday of every month and are now doing the second Wednesday… Since my brothers moved away for school, I ask friends to go with me and my Dad to serve. Usually the groups that serve are quite large… Last year we served in December and Santa Claus was coming that night after dinner and the kids were all so excited…

The food is being prepared when we arrive and we help set the food out, make lemonade and waters and then serve the women and children. After serving, we get a count of late arrivals that are at work and also make them a plate. My dad brings a check to pay for the food that evening and we bring plenty of dessert and always a few DVDs for the kids.

Working with Coalition for the Homeless makes me appreciate everything that I have in my life, family, health, home, friends, teachers, coaches…everything that all of us sometimes take for granted.

your dollars at work The Coalition could not do what we do without you! Take a look at the impact of your dollars… l Disney VoluntEARS celebrated 30 years of bettering our community by painting and refinishing doors in our Center for Women and Families family dorm hallways, making the Coalition feel a little more like home for our homeless families! l Hannah’s Circle of First United Methodist Church of Winter Park came to our rescue by dropping off diapers and four pack ‘n’ plays for our youngest residents. l As part of their Spirit to Serve Central Florida, Marriott renovated our main campus kitchen and dining room, giving our Center for Women and Families residents a beautiful place to enjoy their nutritious meals together as a family. l Bank of America Charitable Foundation donated $50,000, a great portion of which will help fund veteran services in our new Men’s Service Center.

women helping

women

MEET LAURIE STEPHENS

entral Florida has a rich history of women helping women through philanthropic and volunteer efforts. The Coalition’s Journey Home Campaign provides a wonderful opportunity to further this legacy through its Women in Philanthropy (WIP) Initiative, a charter group of 100 women who will donate $5,000 each over a three- to five-year time frame. Funds raised will be designated to our Center for Women and Families and Women’s Residential and Counseling Center programs.

One of the first women to give of herself and her resources was Laurie Stephens. Laurie and her good friend Leslie Chalfont helped kick off the WIP initiative this past December by hosting a holiday brunch in Laurie’s home with 40 of their closest friends. The intimate brunch provided a perfect opportunity to create awareness about the vital programs and services that help bring women and families back to self-sufficiency.

Laurie couldn’t wait to tell you why she supports the Coalition and our WIP Initiative.

I am a homemaker and mother to three busy children. I enjoy cooking, reading, traveling and training our new puppy! My husband, Trip, and I have been avid supporters of the Coalition for many years. He has been a Coalition Board member for the past three years and has enjoyed his increased involvement.

Women in Philanthropy (WIP) is a great way for me to come together with other women in our community in support of women and their children who are less fortunate and need help. I especially like helping women and children because family and a good stable home are so important as a foundation for every facet of life.

Through WIP, we can do something about homelessness on a more organized level.

The campaign to improve the Women’s Residential and Counseling Center is a great example of ways that women in our community are positively impacting women and children in need.

Please join us in this great cause!

HOMELESSNESS DOESN'T TAKE A SUMMER

vacation As the school year comes to a close, many children in Central Florida will not be celebrating. The end of school does not mean a few months of fun and relaxation for them, because homelessness doesn’t take a summer vacation.

Help us take care of the Coalition’s youngest residents this summer. You can fill their months off from school with fun and productive activities.

Plan a game night, arrange a movie night, provide an ice cream party, or take our kids on a field trip to the Orlando Science Center.

Be creative. Make an impact.

Marty Vevera Director of Volunteer Services marty.vevera@cflhomeless.org 407-872-5784 Kristen Martin Volunteer Coordinator kristen.martin@cflhomeless.org 407-849-2757

donate

now

at the Coalition little things are big things We depend exclusively on you for the items that make our residents’ stay as comfortable as possible. The items below may seem like such simple things, but for the homeless men, women, and children at the Coalition, they’re treasures – treasures that we are in critical need of! l Pack ‘n’ plays (new or used) l Pull ups (all sizes) l Deodorant (men’s and women’s) Donations can be dropped off at our main campus. Contact our Volunteer Services team with any questions.

Marty Vevera, Director of Volunteer Services marty.vevera@cflhomeless.org 407-872-5784

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kristen Martin, Volunteer Coordinator kristen.martin@cflhomeless.org 407-849-2757

Chair

Timothy R. Baker*, AIA Baker Barrios Architects, Inc.

Vice Chair

Randy E. Schimmelpfennig* Morgan & Morgan, P.A.

Secretary

Elena H. Norman* Hilton Grand Vacations

Treasurer

Brian P. Buwalda*, CPA CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP

President/CEO

Brent A. Trotter* Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, Inc.

Christopher Annunziato, Holland & Knight LLP Carlos A. Barrios, PE, Stephens-Barrios Bakari F. Burns, Health Care Center for the Homeless, Inc. Fara K. Dantzler*, Wells Fargo Bank N.A. Sylvia Doggett-Jones, Darden Restaurants, Inc. Tracey L. Ellerson, Baker Hostetler LLP Glenn M. Fournier*, Fournier & Associates, Inc. Jim Fritz, Orlando Magic Eric D. Gassman, Orange County Government John E. Hearn, Orlando Utilities Commission

David Jasmund, PCE Investment Bankers, Inc. Christine S. Kefauver, City of Orlando Fred R. Kittinger*, Jr., University of Central Florida Ronald R. Lamb, SunTrust Bank Trevor Larsen, PE, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Sean A. McLaughlin, CNL Financial Group/JDS Holdings, LLC Michael Miller, American Aviation Institute John P. Moskos, Bank of America Walter R. Nason, GrayRobinson, P.A. Lee Nimkoff, Brio Properties Laura L. Pooser*, University of Central Florida John Rivers, 4R Restaurant Group Ty G. Roofner*, Burr & Forman LLP John R. Schooler, Orlando Health Douglas M. Spencer, Spencer Consulting Services Scott R. Stahley*, Lincoln Property Company of Florida, Inc. Samuel C. Stephens III, ZOM, Inc. Barbara Larson Stuart, The Stuart Group Charles Tews*, Tews Company Richard G. Wack, Mediation Services of Central Florida, Inc. Robert F. Wagner, Tupperware Brands Corp.

Bill L. Warren, Reedy Creek Improvement District Michael Weinberg, HFF, L.P. Brian T. Wilson, Dellecker Wilson King McKenna Ruffier & Sos Aaron Zandy, Ford & Harrison LLP *Executive Committee members

639 West Central Boulevard Orlando, FL 32801 407.426.1250 CentralFloridaHomeless.org